Police fired tear gas in central Cairo on Monday night when protesters calling for the reinstatement of the ousted Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, scuffled with drivers and passers-by annoyed that they had blocked major roads.
While smaller in scale and more localised than previous clashes since Morsi was deposed by the military on July 3, scenes of running street battles will raise further concerns over stability in the Arab world's most populous country.
Eye witnesses said thousands of pro-Morsi demonstrators were in the area and police had used tear gas several times to try to control the crowd.
A large fire was burning on the bridge, although the cause was not immediately clear.
The clashes came as the first senior U.S. official to visit Egypt since Mursi was toppled was snubbed by both Islamists and their opponents.
Large crowds mobilised by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement gathered at various points in the city, including outside the Rabaa Adawiya mosque where they have held a three-week vigil, and at Cairo University.
The army warned demonstrators on Monday that it would respond with "the utmost severity and firmness and force" if they approached military bases.
At least 92 people were killed in the days after Morsi was toppled, more than half of them shot by troops outside a barracks near the mosque a week ago.
Protests since then had been tense but peaceful until Monday evening's developments.
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