Protesters gather in Cairo to demand Egypt's leader stands down

A short-lived, rare protest near Tahir Square in Cairo, Egypt saw dozens of protesters call for the resignation of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

Protesters shout slogans during a rare anti-government protest in Downtown Cairo. Source: picture alliance

Dozens of people have protested in Egypt's capital, Cairo, to call for President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to step down.

The short-lived, rare protest began on Friday night near Tahir Square, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Protesters shout slogans during a rare anti-government protest in Downtown Cairo. Source: picture alliance

The protesters were responding to a call by a self-exiled businessman who claimed corruption by the military and government without providing evidence.

Mr El-Sissi has dismissed the allegations as "lies".

Security forces dispersed the protests which continued into the early hours of Saturday.

No casualties were reported. Unauthorised protests are not allowed in Egypt.

Egyptian protesters shout slogans as they take part in a protest calling for the removal of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Source: AFP

Mr El-Sissi came to power following the military's ousting of an elected but divisive Islamist president.

The general-turned-president has overseen an unprecedented political crackdown, silencing critics and jailing thousands of Islamists and some secular pro-democracy activists.