Two people were killed in violent clashes that erupted late on Wednesday between pro-Islamist protesters and police in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria, the Ministry of Interior said.
Egypt has been hit by a wave of violent protests since the army removed elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi from office in July following mass protests against his rule. Hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested since then.
(Read more: Egypt on edge as Mursi trial adjourned)
The Interior Ministry said the clashes happened during two marches organized by some 200 Brotherhood members in Alexandria.
"They (the Brotherhood protesters) blocked the road… set shops on fire, burned a citizen's car, fired guns and bird shot and clashed with and terrorized the people," the Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Thursday.
Egyptian pro-democracy university students stage anti-coup protest rally near Alexandria University in Alexandria, Dec 18, 2013.Ibrahim Ramadan | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
It said some residents had exchanged fire with the Brotherhood protesters, killing two people and injured three police officers. The police forces managed to end the clashes and arrested 10, according to the Interior Ministry statement.
The police had earlier on Wednesday fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of pro-Mursi protesters demonstrating near the Defence Ministry in Cairo after they blocked a road and chanted anti-police and army slogans, according to state media reports.
Police also fired tear gas on pro-Mursi student protesters from the state's main university in the Nile Delta city of Zakazik, the former president's home town.
(Read more: Egypt on path towards democracy: John Kerry)
Students supporting Mursi have been staging daily protests inside and outside their universities since the start of a new academic year in September. At least 10 students have been killed during clashes with the police.
Last November, Egypt's army-installed interim government issued a law that banned protests near or originating from places of worship and made it compulsory to seek Interior Ministry permission to hold a demonstration.
Since the law was passed, hundreds of Brotherhood protesters and liberal activists have been arrested for demonstrating without permission.
