Anti-government protests are taking place in Cairo's infamous Tahrir Square today, in response to a controversial decree issued by Egyptian president, Mohammed Morsi.
The constitutional declaration, issued by Morsi last Thursday, grants the president extensive new powers.
Ahead of this afternoon's planned mass rally, there have been reports of limited clashes between demonstrators and riot police around Tahrir Square.
According to local news sites and tweets from the scene, clashes briefly erupted on streets surrounding the square earlier today. A group moving towards the American Embassy were reportedly pushed back, using armored vehicles and tear gas. Local website, Tahrir News, said a number of protestors threw stones at the riot police.
According to first-hand accounts, an announcement was made from the main podium in Tahrir, calling for people to leave the side roads and get back to the main square.
Hundreds of demonstrators have so far gathered, with the number expected to reach the thousands by early evening. A counter-demonstration in Cairo, organized by Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, has been postponed to "avoid public tension." Brotherhood member, Mohamed Nasr, said protests in all other cities will go ahead as planned.
Yesterday a public funeral for 16-year-old youth activist, Gaber Salah, who died after clashes with security forces in this week's protests, took place in the square.
