Dozens already on Tahrir Square for Friday protests commemorating last year's clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud Street; rejection of President Morsi's new constitutional declaration will take centre stage 11:45 There is definite anti-Brotherhood sentiment on the square, says Ahram Online journalist Zeinab El-Guindy,asmall march is spotted circling the square chanting "Down with the regime of the Brotherhood Supreme Guide." 11:40 Back on Tahrir Square, Egypt's security forces has stepped up their presence in the vicinity, Ahram Online reporters say. Central Security Forces have blocked off the streets to the Cabinet and parliament headquarters, the military reportedly put up barbed wire in the early hours of the morning. Police trucks line many of the adjacent streets. 11:30 Meanwhile, dozens of MuslimBrotherhood supporters have started to flock to the presidential palace in Heliopolis, in support of President Morsi's latest Constitutional Declaration, Ahram Online journalist Ahmed Feteha reports. 11:20 Ahram Online reporter Zeinab El-Guindy on Tahrir Square reports that clashes are still ongoing between protesters and police on Mohamed Mahmoud Street. "Police are still standing on top of the lycee on Mohamed Mahmoud Street throwing rocks down onto protesters, I can see small fires in some of the parts of the school building. Meanwhile on the square two tents are being set up, one for the Sharqiya members of theConstitution Party and one for the Banha members of thePopular Current. The Popular Current told me one of their members was shot with live ammunition by police at 2am this morning just off Tahrir Square - although we have no confirmation of the use of firearms." 11:05 Several ambulances stationed in front of Omar Makram Mosque adjacent to the square having been treating protesters through the night. "We have had around 20 major injuries last night, all from tear gas," says Mohamed Hamdi, a paramedic. The rest he said were from rocks. 11:00 Good morning, we are opening our live coverage of the 'Eyes of Freedom' rallies in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Minor altercations between protesters and Egypt's Central Security Forces continue on the edge of the flashpoint square. An Ahram Online journalist, at the scene, reports increased security on Qasr Al-Aini Street which has been closed off by police, and the surrounding areas. Security forces currently facing the protesters told Ahram Online that the situation has calmed down but they expect further violence today. Dozens have already gathered on Tahrir Square as clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud Street between protesters and security forces continued through the night ahead of planned opposition protests dubbed 'Eyes of Freedom', a reference to many protesters who lost their eyes in clashes to police birdshot bullets. President Mohamed Morsi's surprise Thursday Constitutional Declaration, however, promoted political forces that had been planning to commemorate last year's Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes on Friday to fine-tune their demands. Over 30 opposition political groups had said they would take part in Friday's protests. Their demands included the dismissal of Morsi's cabinet; prosecuting police officers responsible for killing and injuring protesters in the series of clashes that followed last year's Tahrir Square uprising; and a purge and restructuring of Egypt's national police force. However, the new declaration released late Thursday changed the focus of the expected rallies. It stated that the president's decisions cannot be overturned by any judicial authority, which would mean Morsi has legislative, executive, constitutional and now judicial authorities, leading commentators and protesters to dub Morsi the "new Pharaoh." In addition, the controversy-dogged Constituent Assembly and Shura Council (upper house of parliament) would be immune to dissolution by a judicial body, a move that angered many. A joint statement by several parties and movements that were already planning to take part in Friday's rallies have called for mass protests against the declaration. Signatories to the statement included the Constitution Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Free Egyptians Party, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, the Democratic Front Party, the Egypt Freedom Party, the Egyptian Popular Current and the National Association for Change.
