 Egyptian riot police stand behind barbwire as thousands of Egyptian demonstrators march to the Egyptian Presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday December 4, 2012.  Tens of thousands of demonstrators encircled the presidential palace in Cairo after riot police failed to keep them at bay with tear gas on December 4.  An Egyptian woman waves a national flag as demonstrators march to the presidential palace in Cairo on December 4.  A supporter of Egypt's president Mohamed Morsy waves a national flag outside the Supreme Constitutional Court as hundreds of supporters of the president protest on Sunday, December 2, in Cairo, forcing judges to postpone a hearing on a constitutional panel at the heart of a deepening political crisis.  Supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy pray during a protest outside the Supreme Constitutional Court on December 2.  A man kisses a portrait of Egypt's President Mohamed Morsy during a gathering of thousands of Islamists in front of Cairo University on Saturday, December 1.  Thousands pray during a rally in support of Morsy in front of Cairo University on December 1.  An Egyptian man delivers a speech as protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, November 30.  A man shouts as protesters gather in Tahrir Square on November 30.  A man holds a copy of the Koran and a cross in Tahrir Square on November 30.  Protesters run from Egyptian riot police during clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, November 28. Police fired tear gas into the square, where several hundred protesters spent the night after a mass rally to denounce President Mohamed Morsy's assumption of expanded powers. Activists have been camping out in Tahrir Square since November 23.  A protester carries a rock during clashes with police on Wednesday.  Egyptians carry a giant national flag as tens of thousands take part in a mass rally in Cairo on Tuesday, November 27, against a decree by President Mohamed Morsy granting himself broad powers.  An Egyptian protester holds up a Quran and a figure of Christ on the cross during Tuesday's demonstration.  Protesters continue to rally in Tahrir Square on Tuesday.  An Egyptian protester attempts to throw back a tear gas canister on Tuesday during clashes with riot police in Omar Makram Street, off Tahrir Square.  Activists in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, November 26, carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes in Cairo. Salah, a member of the April 6 movement known by his nickname "Jika," was injured last week during confrontations between police and protesters on Cairo's Mohammed Mahmud street.  Thousands of activists attend the funeral of Gaber Salah on Monday.  Protesters clash with Egyptian police at Simon Bolivar Square on Sunday, November 25, in Cairo. Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood called nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in his showdown with the judges over the path to a new constitution.  Egyptian protesters hurl stones at police at Tahrir Square on Sunday.  Protesters gather at sit-in tents in Tahrir Square on Sunday.  Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy waves to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, November 23. Thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered outside the presidential palace to defend their leader against accusations from rival protesters that he has become a dictator.  Morsy supporters gather outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday. Morsy insisted that Egypt was on the path to "freedom and democracy," as protesters held rival rallies over sweeping powers he assumed that further polarized the country's political forces.  Protesters demonstrating against Morsy run from tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police during clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday.  Egyptian protesters throw rocks toward riot police on Friday  Egyptian supporters and opponents of Morsy clash in the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday.  A man throws a rock during clashes in Alexandria on Friday.  Thousands of demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo to protest against Morsy on Friday.  Clashes rocked the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday.                             
Cairo (CNN) -- Protesters marching on Egypt's presidential palace Tuesday night broke through barbed wire around the building and hurled chairs and rocks at retreating police. Officers lobbed tear gas back at them. After initial clashes, police drew behind fences and protests were peaceful for several hours. More violence broke out at the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party in Menia, south of Cairo. At least 19 protesters were injured, according to Mahmoud Amin, who is in charge of ambulance operations outside the palace. The Freedom and Justice Party -- an Islamist political group that has links to the Muslim Brotherhood -- is the party of President Mohamed Morsy. Party head Dr. Hussein Sultan said the front of the headquarters is damaged, and at least one protester fired a shot in the air. Egypt's Health Ministry said at least 50 ambulances had been dispatched to locations around Cairo, including 20 to the presidential palace. Hospitals were placed on high alert in anticipation of injured protesters, the ministry said. Many in Egypt believe a new draft constitution in the country, which will be put to a popular vote on December 15, is unfair in its wording, and is an attempt by Morsy to grab more power. Morsy was not at the palace when the protesters descended, his office said. He was out meeting with government officials, they said. The protests cap a day of silent protest by media organizations opposing the country's new draft constitution and an edict Morsy issued nearly two weeks ago to expand his powers. They feel the constitution does not sufficiently protect freedom of the press and, on Tuesday, a dozen partisan and privately-owned papers were not on the newsstands in protest. Four Egyptian satellite channels are expected to go off the air on Wednesday in solidarity. Freedom and Justice Party media adviser Murad Ali warned that organizers of the protest outside the palace could face consequences. They "must bear the responsibility of the demonstrations they called, and bear full responsibility for any violence that may result from poor organization," he said. Journalist Sarah Sirgany in Cairo and CNN's Ben Brumfield in Atlanta contributed to this report.   |
12/04/2012
Egypt protesters attack palace, party HQ
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