Fierce clashes between opponents and supporters of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resumed on Cairo's central Tahrir Square on Thursday afternoon.
Rioters hurled stones and smoke grenades at one another as the army maintained neutrality.
Earlier in the day the Egyptian military cordoned off the square in a bid to separate Mubarak supporters and opposition protesters 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. Protesters were also fired on by pro-government supporters during morning prayers on Thursday.
Media reports say between five and 15 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)
