There has been a noticeable build up of military vehicles near Cairo for the first time since the 18-day uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, according to eyewitnesses.

Military vehicles have been noticed on the Cairo-Alexandria Agricultural Road near where the Circular Road enters the capital.

Tanks and armoured vehicles were spotted on the highway around 5km from Qaliub moving towards Cairo.

Soldiers refused to tell onlookers what was happening and told them not to get too close to the vehicles

The military is congregating at the location where it was used to prevent cars entering the capital during the early days of the 2011 uprising.