Egypt: Protests marking uprising leave 16 dead

At least 16 people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters across Egypt, officials said.

One policeman was among the dead and dozens of protesters were also injured, health officials confirmed, BBC reported.

The clashes follow the death of an activist in a march in Cairo Saturday.

The protests were staged to mark the fourth anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising, which toppled long-time leader Hosni Mubarak.

Security in major cities was tightened ahead of the anniversary, and key locations in Cairo were blocked off.

Dozens of people were killed in similar protests last year.

On Saturday, activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh was shot dead during a march by the socialist Popular Alliance party in central Cairo.

The party blamed police for her death. She was buried amid angry scenes in the northern city of Alexandria Sunday.

Since ousting the elected President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013, the new Egyptian authorities have cracked down on political dissent.