Egypt's ruling military council ends curfew imposed on Abbasiya Square and the area around the defence ministry as of Friday, in a statement issued on state TV.

The military council had first imposed an 11pm-7am curfew last Friday, following the eruption of clashes between anti-SCAF protesters and army personnel outside the defence ministry headquarters in Abbasiya. On Monday, the curfew was shortened to 12am-6am.

Since the onset of violence on 28 April at the Abbasiya Square sit-in, at least ten protesters have been killed and hundreds more injured in the ensuing clashes.

Last Friday, more than 300 protesters were arrested in a crackdown by military personnel. Fifteen female protesters were later released.