(29 Nov 2013) Security forces in Egypt's capital on Friday fired teargas to disperse hundreds of Islamist demonstrators defying a draconian new law restricting protests, which has drawn widespread criticism from democracy advocates and the international community.
Since a popularly backed military coup ousted President Mohammed Morsi in July, his Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been staging near-daily protests calling for his reinstatement, with Friday's weekly Muslim prayers a key time for mobilising.
The rallies have often descended into street clashes with security forces or anti-Brotherhood protesters.
In an effort to quash pro-Morsi rallies, which have persisted despite a heavy security crackdown, the military-backed government issued the law on Sunday, banning political gatherings of more than 10 people without a police permit.
Instead, the law has sparked new protests by Egypt's camp of secular activists, who had been largely muted since the ouster of Morsi, whom they opposed.
The past week, security forces have forcefully broken up several protests by secular activists in Cairo.
On Thursday, a student was killed when police put down a march by Islamists from Cairo University.
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