Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohamed Morsi hold a rally against a new law regulating protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 29, 2013. (Photo: AP)
Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi held rallies on Friday in several cities in Egypt, clashing with security forces.
Demonstrators demanded the return of the former president, who is being held in detention while on trial for various charges, including inciting violence.
Clashes erupted in Giza's Haram district when unknown assailants attacked a march by Morsi supporters. Security forces fired teargas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse the crowds.
Security forces also fired teargas at pro-Morsi protesters in two Cairo districts, Kasr Al-Qoba and Helwan.
In the northern city of Damietta, security forces also dispersed pro-Morsi demonstrations using teargas.
Other demonstrations also took place in the Cairo districts of Zeitoun, Marg and Ain Shams, and in the governorates of Alexandria, Qalioubiya and Sharqiya.
Khaled El-Khatib, head of the emergency treatment department at the health ministry, denied reports that one person had died in the clashes.
Friday saw the first pro-Morsi rallies since the interior ministry issued a controversial new law on protests.
The legislation, which came into force on Sunday, requires protest organisers to notify the police three days in advance of any public demonstration of more than ten people. Under the law, authorities are entitled to ban the protest if they think it constitutes a threat to public order. Those who violate the law may be subject to fines or jail terms.
On Tuesday, security forces cracked down on two non-Islamist protests, arresting dozens of demonstrators.
Arrest warrants were issued for activists Alaa Abdel-Fattah and Ahmed Maher on charges of inciting protests without notifying authorities. Abdel-Fattah was arrested on Thursday night and taken into custody.
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