At least one dead in Egypt protest

A man was killed when he was struck by shotgun fire during clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square as riot police tried to disperse protesters.

Egyptians activists shout slogans against the Muslim Brotherhood, the military and what they call the remnants of the Mubarak regime, as they rally during the anniversary of Mohamed Mahmoud clashes, at Mohamed Mahmoud street near Tahrir square. (AAP)

At least one person was killed when Egyptian riot police stormed Cairo's Tahrir Square to disperse stone-throwing protesters, a health ministry official says.

Police backed by armoured vehicles fired tear gas and shots to scatter protesters who had gathered to mark Tuesday's anniversary of deadly 2011 demonstrations.

One man was killed when he was struck by shotgun fire during the clashes, head of emergency services Ahmed al-Ansari told AFP. It was not immediately clear if he was a protester.

The crowds were marking the anniversary of 2011 protests against the military, which took power between president Hosni Mubarak's overthrow and his now-deposed successor Mohamed Morsi's election in June 2012.

Egypt is divided between Morsi's supporters and those of the military that overthrew him, but Tuesday's protesters accused both sides of betraying the goals of the 2011 uprising.

The clashes erupted near the Arab League's headquarters at the corner of the iconic square, where millions had rallied to pressure the resignation of Mubarak and, more than two years later, Morsi.

Ansari said 16 people were injured in the violence, including a man with a shotgun pellet wound to the eye.

In 2011, at least 43 protesters were killed in the Mohamed Mahmud street clashes just off Tahrir Square.

"I am here to retaliate for my friends killed in Mohamed Mahmud. No one has brought them their rights," one young protester said.

Some of the protesters had been outraged by a monument - to those killed in the mass protests - inaugurated in the square on the eve of the Mohamed Mahmud anniversary.

Protesters accused the government and police of revising the history of the Mohamed Mahmud carnage amid a wave of pro-military nationalism following Morsi's overthrow.

"Celebrating in praise of the army is a provocation," said protester Magda al-Masrya, 50. "We are here today to mourn the martyrs."