Egyptian riot police have fired tear gas to disperse students protesting against the military-backed government at al-Azhar University in Cairo, security sources say.

This comes after fierce clashes erupted between security forces and students supporting the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi.

The protesters managed to take their march outside the university campus and blocked a main road as they chanted slogans against the military-installed government. Angry protesters demanded the release of political detainees.

A number of students were arrested after demonstrators threw rocks at security forces.

A series of violent clashes also erupted on Sunday when students tried to move their protest out of the campus.

Protesters were prevented from marching towards Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque, the scene of a former sit-in where hundreds of protesters supporting the former president, Morsi, were killed as security forces broke up their camps in early August.

Since the start of the academic year in September, Egyptian university campuses have witnessed a number of protests.

The developments come as demonstrations by Morsi's supporters against the government are still being held across Egypt despite the interim authorities’ efforts to widen crackdown on Morsi backers.

The interim government took power after Morsi was ousted by the army on July 3.

Egypt's interim government has arrested more than 2,000 Muslim Brotherhood members, including the party’s leader, Mohamed Badie, who was detained on August 20.

Morsi has been held in an unknown location since his overthrow. He is due to stand trial on November 4 on charges of inciting violence.

Hundreds of supporters of the group have been killed in clashes with army over the past few months.