Egypt army deploys tanks near Prez palace; 5 killed in clashes

Tanks and armoured cars were positioned outside the Presidential Palace as hundreds of Morsi's supporters chanted slogans in his favour, amid growing unrest over a controversial draft Constitution.

Violence continued today as Morsi's opponents attacked the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, in several cities.

Clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi left five people dead and nearly 450 others injured, officials said.

However, there was no word on it from the Presidency which said Morsi is likely to deliver a speech shortly.

Supporters of Morsi responded to a call to rally outside the Presidential Palace yesterday, while the mainly secular opponents of the President were already staging a sit-in protest there.

Vice President Mahmoud Mekki said yesterday the vote on the draft Constitution was still scheduled for 15 December. He, however, added that the "door for dialogue" remained open.

Egyptian diplomatic missions have announced that they will boycott supervision of the referendum on the Constitution if it goes ahead as planned on December 15.

Muslim Brotherhood leaders and their supporters, meanwhile, headed to the Presidential Palace to express support for Morsi.

The Brotherhood announced that one of their members was among the five people killed in the clashes. (More)