Egypt has expressed "utter surprise" at a critical statement about the killing of protesters by the head of the United Nations human rights body, saying it featured an "incomplete portrayal of events."

In a formal reply, the Egyptian foreign ministry said the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights "ignored the Muslim Brotherhood's near daily planting of bombs and explosives in public places to terrorise citizens."

Zeid Raad Al-Hussein said on Tuesday that he was "deeply disturbed" by the deaths in clashes that raged in Egypt from Friday, according to AFP.

He demanded in a statement that Cairo "take urgent measures to bring an end to the excessive use of force by security personnel."

The comments came after at least 23 people were killed around the country in clashes between police and protesters commemorating the fourth anniversary of the January 25 revolution.

Shaimaa El-Sabagh was shot dead in a peaceful demonstration a day earlier, further fuelling anger of activists.

Egypt has been criticised by local and international rights groups over the past year and a half for cracking down on protesters and limiting the right to demonstrate. Authorities have always dismissed criticism as biased and said the contested protest law aims to bring security and stability to the turbulent streets.