Egypt army deploys tanks near Prez palace, 5 killed in clashes

Tanks and armoured cars were positioned outside the Presidential Palace as hundreds of Mursi's supporters chanted slogans in his favour, amid growing unrest over a controversial draft Constitution.

The Egyptian army then began to clear the area around the presidential palace ordering demonstrators and media organisations to vacate the place.

It followed violent overnight clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mursi that left five people dead and 644 injured, media reports said.

Violence continued today as Mursi's opponents attacked the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, in several cities.

However, there was no word on it from the Presidency which said Mursi is likely to deliver a speech shortly.

Also today, Egypt's top Islamic body called on Mursi to suspend a decree in which he claimed sweeping powers and demanded an unconditional dialogue between the president and his opponents.

The Al-Azhar institution said, Mursi should "suspend the latest decree and stop using it," in a statement.

By this morning, the Republican Guard had deployed at least 10 tanks and troops outside the palace.

Supporters of Mursi responded to a call to rally outside the Presidential Palace yesterday, while the mainly secular opponents of the President were already staging a sit-in protest there.

Protesters fired guns and threw firebombs and rocks at each other as

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