Outraged protesters have hurled stones and bottles at Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil’s motorcade in the capital, Cairo.

Egyptian media reported Saturday that anti-government demonstrators attacked the prime minister’s vehicle as he tried to enter Cairo’s Liberation Square.

Qandil’s office said in a statement, without elaborating, that he had been “confronted by youths and troublemakers.” He reportedly left the scene after the incident.

The premier later said, “I preferred to avoid a confrontation between them and security personnel.”

According to reports, dozens of protesters have still remained in Liberation square. There are also reports of skirmishes between security guards and demonstrators in a nearby street.


Earlier in the day, Egyptian riot police were deployed near the presidential palace in the capital following clashes between protesters and security forces that killed one person and wounded dozens in Cairo late on Friday.

There were also demonstrations in several other major Egyptian cities on Friday, with protesters accusing President Mohamed Morsi of monopolizing power and betraying the ideals of the 2011 revolution that toppled former dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi also said security forces would deal with violent protests with “utmost decisiveness” and that opposition groups found to have incited the clashes would be held “politically accountable.”

The president further demanded that opposition groups denounce the violence and call on their followers to withdraw.

The ongoing violent protests broke out in Egypt on January 25 when demonstrators marked the second anniversary of the 2011 revolution.