Thousands march on Morsi's palace

Protesters chant and wave flags in Cairo yesterday (Reuters)

A protest by tens of thousands of Egyptians outside the presidential palace in Cairo turned violent today as tensions grew over Islamist President Mohammed Morsi’s seizure of nearly unrestricted powers and a draft constitution hurriedly adopted by his allies.

Tear gas was fired as hundreds of riot police confronted the protesters as they approached the palace in the capital’s Heliopolis district, which was also protected by barbed wire.

Roads leading to the palace were cordoned off. Mr Morsi was in the palace conducting business while the protesters gathered outside, but he left for home through a back door when the crowds “grew bigger”, according to a presidential official.