Tens of thousands protest across Egypt

Tens of thousands of Egyptians protested yesterday against President Mohamed Morsi in one of the biggest rallies since Hosni …

Tens of thousands of Egyptians protested yesterday against President Mohamed Morsi in one of the biggest rallies since Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow, accusing the Islamist leader of seeking to impose a new era of autocracy.

Police fired tear gas at stone-throwing youths in streets near the main protest in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the heart of the uprising that toppled Mubarak last year.

Clashes between Mr Morsi’s opponents and supporters also erupted in a city north of Cairo.

But violence could not overshadow the show of strength by the normally divided opponents of Islamists in power, posing Mr Morsi with the biggest challenge in his five months in office. “The people want to bring down the regime,” protesters in Tahrir chanted, echoing slogans used in the 2011 revolt.

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Protesters also turned out in Alexandria, Suez, Minya and other Nile Delta cities.

Yesterday’s protest called by leftists, liberals and other groups deepened the worst crisis since the Muslim Brotherhood politician was elected in June, and exposed the deep divide between the newly empowered Islamists and their opponents.

A 52-year-old protester died after inhaling tear gas in Cairo, the second death since Mr Morsi last week issued a decree that expanded his powers and barred court challenges to his decisions.– (Reuters)