Egyptian police used tear gas in Cairo today to disperse students protesting in support of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, two days before a constitutional referendum, security sources said.
Police arrested 19 people, including four women, during clashes with students in front of Al Azar and Ain Shams universities, security officials said.
The protests by supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood came at a time when the Egyptian authorities are preparing for a referendum on the constitution, which should be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, AFP reported.
As the French agency adds, the referendum will represent a kind of test of the popularity of the head of the Egyptian army, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led Morsi's overthrow.
On Saturday, Sisi called on citizens to vote en masse in next Sunday's referendum.
According to analysts, Egypt's interim authorities hope that mass approval of the new constitution would allow Sisi to participate in the presidential elections.
On Saturday, Sisi said that he will run in the elections if the people so choose be asked of him, the "Al Ahram" newspaper published.
According to the army, during the referendum, around 30.000 polling stations will be guarded by around 160.000 members of the Egyptian army.
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