Protests are being held in Cairo against Egypt's new draft constitution which was rushed to completion last week and is due to go before voters in a referendum scheduled for December 15th.
Egyptian riot police fired tear gas at tens of thousands of demonstrators who were gathered outside the presidential palace.
It is reported that the police retreated quickly after firing one round of gas canisters, to avoid further clashes.
The protests were organised by secular and anti-Islamist groups who say that the draft constitution gives religious authorities too much influence, even likening it to the blueprints drawn up in pre-1979 revolution Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini.
The demonstrators are undecided on whether to push for Egyptians to vote against the constitution or for an outright boycott of the referendum.
See here for full New York Times report.
Egyptian riot police fired tear gas at tens of thousands of demonstrators who were gathered outside the presidential palace.
It is reported that the police retreated quickly after firing one round of gas canisters, to avoid further clashes.
The protests were organised by secular and anti-Islamist groups who say that the draft constitution gives religious authorities too much influence, even likening it to the blueprints drawn up in pre-1979 revolution Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini.
The demonstrators are undecided on whether to push for Egyptians to vote against the constitution or for an outright boycott of the referendum.
See here for full New York Times report.
