The Egyptian military has cordoned off Cairo's Tahrir Square in a bid to separate supporters of beleaguered President Hosni Mubarak and opposition protestors calling for him to step down.
Thousands of Mubarak supporters arrived at the square on horses and camels on Wednesday and clashed with opposition protesters. Protestors were also fired on by pro-government supporters during morning prayers on Thursday.
Media reports say between five and fifteen people have been killed and up to 1,500 injured in fighting in the square.
Protesters are being prevented from leaving the cordoned-off area in search of food and water by groups of young men armed with sticks and knives.
The Egyptian military has deployed vehicles in downtown Cairo and started detaining protesters, Al Arabiya TV reported on Thursday. The army had earlier refrained from intervening in the protests.
Anti-government protests broke out in Egypt on January 25. The unrest has already claimed the lives of at least 300 people and injured several thousand across the North African state.
CAIRO, February 3 (RIA Novosti)
