Egypt protesters resume occupation of Tahrir Square
The BBC's Yolande Knell was told by a doctor that "protesters have injuries from rubber bullets... many have been hit in the eyes"
Egyptian protesters have reoccupied Tahrir Square in Cairo, following deadly clashes with police in the capital and other cities.
Several hundred protesters spent the night in the square, having fought off police attempts to remove them.The clashes resumed on Sunday as the police fired tear gas at protesters approaching a government building.
The first parliamentary elections since the overthrow of President Mubarak are due to begin in just over a week.
The violence began early on Saturday when riot police tried to remove protesters who had set up a camp there following protests on Friday.
Two demonstrators were killed, one in Cairo and one in Alexandria, and hundreds were injured.
After clashes that lasted for much of the day and well into the night, the police eventually pulled back into the surrounding streets.
Clashes resumed just outside the square on Sunday when police fought back demonstrators who were trying to advance on the interior ministry.
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Some of today's newspapers are describing this protest as "the second revolution" and you can see why. Once again Tahrir Square resembles the makeshift camp that toppled the president during Egypt's 18-day uprising. There are makeshift field hospitals treating the injured. The "KFC clinic" has reopened outside the fast food restaurant.
A volunteer medic told me that many people have injuries from rubber bullets and buck shot, particularly to the eyes.
Clouds of stinging tear gas again fill the air. Police are using it on nearby streets to drive back demonstrators trying to advance on the interior ministry.
Much of central Cairo is again closed off. Traffic is blocked and stores are shuttered up in what would usually be a busy shopping area.Some locals expressed anger at the disruption but a woman activist says the people must reoccupy the streets until there is a complete handover by the military to civilian rule.
Analysis
A volunteer medic told me that many people have injuries from rubber bullets and buck shot, particularly to the eyes.
Clouds of stinging tear gas again fill the air. Police are using it on nearby streets to drive back demonstrators trying to advance on the interior ministry.
Much of central Cairo is again closed off. Traffic is blocked and stores are shuttered up in what would usually be a busy shopping area.Some locals expressed anger at the disruption but a woman activist says the people must reoccupy the streets until there is a complete handover by the military to civilian rule.
A makeshift camp has sprung up in the square - exactly like the one that appeared during the protests in February that forced President Hosni Mubarak from power.
A temporary field hospital has been set up to treat injured protesters.Tahrir Square - which is usually one of Cairo's busiest traffic thoroughfares - is now closed to vehicles at the start of the working week and most nearby businesses are shut.
Renewed violence Protesters - mostly Islamists and young activists - have been holding demonstrations against a draft constitution that they say would allow the military to retain too much power after a new civilian government is elected.
They have repeatedly tried to gain a foothold in Tahrir Square again, but up to now they have always been removed quickly by the police.
"The violence yesterday showed us that Mubarak is still in power," one protester, Ahmed Hani, told the AP news agency.
He said the leader of Egypt's military government, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, should resign.
"We have a single demand: The marshal must step down and be replaced by a civilian council," he said.
Saturday's violence was some of the worst in months between Egyptian police and demonstrators.
Seven-hundred-and-fifty people were injured around the country, including 40 security personnel, Egyptian state television reports.
One protester in Cairo was hit by a live bullet and died later in hospital.
Another, in Alexandria, was killed by a rubber bullet during violent confrontations outside the offices of the interior ministry.
The demonstrators in Cairo set a government building and a police vehicle on fire and threw stones and petrol bombs at riot police.
The number of protesters grew during the day, reportedly after a call went out on social media for people to join the demonstration following the police assault.
Government warning Prime Minister Essam Sharaf called on the protesters to clear the square.
"What is happening in Tahrir is very dangerous and threatens the course of the nation and the revolution," a statement from the cabinet said.
One of the demonstrators, Ali Abdel Aziz, said security forces beat up protesters to break up the sit-in on Saturday.
Saturday's clashes were some of the worst for months between protesters and police in Egypt
"They beat us harshly, they didn't care for either men or women," the 32-year-old accountancy professor told the AFP news agency. Parliamentary elections are due to begin on 28 November and take three months.
Earlier in November, Egypt's military rulers produced a draft document setting out principles for a new constitution.
Under those guidelines, the military would be exempted from civilian oversight, as would its budget.
This has angered protesters who fear the gains they have made during the uprising could yet slip away as the military tries to retain some grip on power.
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