Mubarak protests stepped up

(AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Egyptian police scuffled with protesters in central Cairo yesterday in the latest demonstration against the rule of President Hosni Mubarak before parliamentary elections later this year.

Police in riot gear beat back several youths and detained at least one person when about 400 protesters from a number of opposition groups and social movements turned out near the government headquarters. Opposition MPs had called the demonstration to condemn what they said was brutal treatment by police.