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Witness: Egypt riot police set fire to protest tents in Tahrir Square

A column of smoke is seen rising from the burning tents of the demonstrators Friday.
A column of smoke is seen rising from the burning tents of the demonstrators Friday.Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
By PhotoBlog
An anti-Morsi demonstrator tries to escape from a tent -- set on fire by riot police, according to a witness -- at Tahrir Square in Cairo Friday.
An anti-Morsi demonstrator tries to escape from a tent -- set on fire by riot police, according to a witness -- at Tahrir Square in Cairo Friday.Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Riot police beat an anti-Morsi demonstrator with batons after he emerges from his burning tent Friday.
Riot police beat an anti-Morsi demonstrator with batons after he emerges from his burning tent Friday.Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
A column of smoke is seen rising from the burning tents of the demonstrators Friday.
A column of smoke is seen rising from the burning tents of the demonstrators Friday.Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Morsi's opponents were expected to head to Tahrir Square on Friday to mark the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak with protests against the new head of state.
Morsi's opponents were expected to head to Tahrir Square on Friday to mark the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak with protests against the new head of state.Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

By Ahmed el-Shemi and Tom Perry, Reuters

CAIRO -- Hundreds of youths clashed with Egyptian police in Tahrir Square on Friday in a violent start to the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak and led to the election of an Islamist president who is now the focus of protester rage.

The Health Ministry said 16 people had been wounded. At one point, riot police used one of the incendiaries thrown at them to set ablaze at least two tents erected by the youths, a Reuters witness said. Read the full story.

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