 Demonstrators are vowing to continue their protests |
Organisers of a series of pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt say police arrested about 75 people in connection with protests held across the country. The Kifaya movement says all but two of their activists were later released. Events were held in 15 cities to call for an end to President Hosni Mubarak's presidency and the lifting of emergency laws imposed under his rule in 1981.
In Cairo, more than 1,000 riot police prevented about 300 protesters from approaching the Supreme Court.
In the southern city of Luxor, more than 1,000 people are said to have taken part in a protest.
Witnesses in some cities, including Suez and Benha, are quoted as saying police beat protesters with batons to disperse them.
The group has held a series of protests since December gradually attracting larger numbers of participants.
Kifaya says it will keep on protesting until the authorities release all those detained in demonstrations.
Police presence
BBC correspondent Heba Saleh at the scene of the Cairo demonstration said there was no sign of arrests.
Police, however, closed off the street in front of the journalists' syndicate where the protest took place.
Our correspondent saw more than 1,000 riot police in full riot gear surrounding the protesters.
Kifaya, meaning "enough" in Arabic, is a coalition of activists from different political backgrounds.
It includes leftists, nationalists and Islamists and its aim is to stop the president from standing for another term in office.
Mr Mubarak, under US pressure to undertake political reforms, said in an interview on Tuesday he had not decided whether he would run in the election due later this year.
One-Minute World News 
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