Violence at anti-Morsi protests

A protest by at least 100,000 Egyptians outside the presidential palace in Cairo turned violent today as tensions grew over Islamist president Mohammed Morsi’s seizure of nearly unrestricted powers and a draft constitution hurriedly adopted by his allies.

Crowds around the capital and in the coastal city of Alexandria were still swelling several hours after nightfall. The large turnout signalled sustained momentum for the opposition, which brought out at least 200,000 protesters to Cairo’s Tahrir Square a week ago and a comparable number on Friday. They are demanding that Mr Morsi rescind decrees that placed him above judicial oversight.