Death toll in Egypt protest rises as clashes continue in Cairo's Tahrir square

The death toll from clashes between Egyptian police and protestors around the country has risen over the past three days to 33. Hundreds of people have also been injured during the protests that broke out in Cairo, Alexandria and the canal city of Suez. 

Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

More protestors moved into Cairo’s Tahir Square on Monday demanding that the ruling military cede power to a civilian authority. They were met by security forces using batons, tear gas and birdshot.

The square is the symbolic centre of demonstrations that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak in February.

The violence threatens to overshadow parliamentary elections on 28 November, the first since the end of Mubarak's 30-year-rule.

Egypt’s cabinet held an emergency meeting on Sunday, lasting several hours, before announcing the elections would go ahead as planned.

There had been calls from several prominent figures and intellectual including former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei for the polls to be delayed.

Protestors called for the withdrawal of a government document that proposes supra-consitutional principles which could see the military maintain some control over the country’s affairs and keep its budget from public scrutiny.