Egypt's riot police fired tear gas at scores of Islamist protesters demonstrating near Al-Azhar University northeast of Cairo, reported Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

Some 150 student protesters supporting toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi were marching in the streets surrounding the campus, shouting slogans against the army and police. 

Security forces fired rounds of tear gas to disperse the protesters after they blocked a road leading to the main university gate.

Police chased rioters attempting to hinder exams taking place at the prestigious Islamic learning institution, Al-Ahram added.

Egyptian universities, including Al-Azhar, have seen regular protests by Islamist students since Morsi's ouster in July, often escalating to violence amid a sustained crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Morsi hails.