Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Protesters against Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi celebrate after peacefully breaking past barbed wire barricades guarding the presidential palace in Cairo, Dec. 7, 2012. Tens of thousands of Egyptian protesters surged around the presidential palace on Friday as the opposition rejected Morsi's call for dialogue to end a crisis that has polarized the nation and sparked deadly clashes.
Related Article: Egypt delays overseas vote on constitution as protesters gather near presidential palace
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Anti-Morsi protesters shout slogans during a protest in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Dec. 4, 2012.
Maya Alleruzzo / AP
An Egyptian woman holds a national flag as she listens to speakers, not pictured, in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Dec. 4.
Reuters reports — Egyptian police battled thousands of protesters outside President Mohamed Morsi's palace in Cairo on Tuesday, prompting the Islamist leader to leave the building, presidency sources said.
Officers fired teargas at up to 10,000 demonstrators angered by Morsi's drive to hold a referendum on a new constitution on December 15. Some broke through police lines around his palace and protested next to the perimeter wall.
The crowds had gathered nearby in what organizers had dubbed "last warning" protests against Morsi, who infuriated opponents with a November 22 decree that expanded his powers. "The people want the downfall of the regime," the demonstrators chanted.
"The president left the palace," a presidential source, who declined to be named, told Reuters. A security source at the presidency also said the president had departed. Full story…
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
A protester carries a shield belonging to a riot police member who ran away as protesters clash briefly with riot police during a protest in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Dec. 4
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
A woman stands near barbed wire in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Dec. 4.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
An anti-Morsi protester sprays paint reading "Control by Revolution" on a riot police vehicle during clashes in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Dec. 4.
Maya Alleruzzo / AP
Fireworks burst over Tahrir Square as protesters gather in Cairo, Dec. 4.
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Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi reportedly left the palace via the back door to avoid further confrontation, as crowds vented their fury at Morsi's decree granting him nearly unlimited powers. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Khaled Elfiqi / EPA
Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi at a demonstration near Cairo University on Dec. 1.
Khaled Elfiqi / EPA
Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi rally near Cairo University.
By NBC News wire services:
Islamist crowds demonstrated in Cairo on Saturday in support of President Mohammed Morsi, who is racing through a constitution to try to defuse opposition fury over his newly expanded powers.
Many thousands assembled outside Cairo University, waving Egyptian flags and green Islamist emblems to show their backing for the president and the constitution he is promoting. Full Story
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi at a rally near Cairo University.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Morsi supporters on top of a statue called "Egypt's Renaissance" at Cairo University.
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
Anti-Morsi protesters and their tents in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Dec. 1.
Meanwhile, anti-Morsi protesters continued their sit-in Tahrir Square, saying the Muslim Brotherhood has stolen the revolution and is railroading though a constitution that could lock in Muslim Brotherhood rule for 50 years, bringing more Islamic law. Read news analysis by Richard Engel
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
Anti-Morsi protesters chant slogans in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Dec. 1.
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
A protester opposed to Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi carries a cross and a Koran in Tahrir Square on Dec. 1.
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
Anti-Morsi protesters chant slogans in Tahrir Square on Dec. 1.
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Khalil Hamra / AP
Egyptian protesters clash with security forces near Tahrir Square, in Cairo, Egypt, on Nov. 28. Egyptian state television says the country's highest appeal court has decided to suspend its work nationwide to protest the president's decrees giving himself nearly absolute powers.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Protesters hit a riot policeman, center, after surrounding him during clashes in front of the U.S Embassy near Tahrir Square in Cairo on Nov. 28.
Reuters -- Hundreds of demonstrators were in Cairo's Tahrir Square for a sixth day on Wednesday to demand that President Mohammed Morsi rescind a decree they say gives him dictatorial powers, and two of Egypt's top courts stopped work in protest.
But in a move that one Muslim Brotherhood official said could help resolve the worst crisis of Morsi's five-month presidency, the assembly drawing up a new constitution said it would complete work on a final draft on Wednesday.
The official said the final draft could go to a popular referendum by mid-December. If approved it would cancel the constitutional declaration that extended Morsi's powers and sparked street protests that drew tens of thousands on Tuesday. Brotherhood and other Islamists have called for a rally backing the president on Saturday. Continue reading.
Analysis: Egypt learns the art of politics amid protests challenging Morsi's decree
Gianluigi Guercia / AFP - Getty Images
Protesters face Egyptian riot Police during clashes on Omar Makram street, off Tahrir Square, on Nov. 28 in Cairo. Police fired tear gas into Cairo's Tahrir Square, where several hundred protesters spent the night after a mass rally to denounce President Mohammed Morsi's assumption of expanded powers.
Mahmoud Khaled / AFP - Getty Images
Egyptian riot police detain a man during clashes on Omar Makram street, off Tahrir Square, on Nov. 28 in Cairo.
Khaled Elfiqi / EPA
A general view shows Egyptian protesters and make-shift tenets at Tahrir Square, in Cairo Nov. 28. Media reports state that new clashes erupted in Cairo between security forces and protesters angry at a decree by President Mohamed Morsi granting himself sweeping new powers. Police fired tears gas against the stone-throwing protesters in Tahrir Square, where thousands have been camping out for several days in a bid to convince Morsi to rescind the decree.
Since Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi launched his far-reaching constitutional decree that essentially gives him unchecked power, large scale protests have returned to Tahrir Square. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
Previously on PhotoBlog:
Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
Anti-Morsi protesters chant anti-government and anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans as they gather at Tahrir Square in Cairo Nov. 27.
Khalil Hamra / AP
Egyptian security forces arrest a protester during clashes near Tahrir square in Cairo, Nov. 27, 2012.
Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
Anti-Morsi protesters carry a wounded man away from tear gas during clashes with riot police at Tahrir square in Cairo, Nov. 27.
Andre Pain / EPA
Protesters against President Mohammed Morsi's decree gather at Tahrir Square in Cairo on Nov. 27.
Khaled Elfiqi / EPA
Egyptian protesters shout slogans against President Mohammed Morsi, during a rally against his decree, in Tahrir square, Cairo, Nov. 27.
Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
Anti-Morsi protesters try to carry a man affected by tear gas during clashes with riot police at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Nov. 27.
Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi rallied in Cairo's Tahrir Square for a fifth day on Tuesday, stepping up calls to scrap a decree they say threatens Egypt with a new era of autocracy.
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Gianluigi Guercia / AFP - Getty Images
Egyptian activists carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes with police last week, during his funeral in Tahrir Square on Nov. 26.
Hussein Tallal / AP
Egyptians carry the body of Gaber Salah during his funeral procession in Cairo on Nov. 26.
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Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
A mourner wearing chains attends the funeral of youth activist Gaber Salah.
Khaled Elfiqi / EPA
Egyptian protesters react during the funeral of Gaber Salah.
Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
A masked protester during clashes with police in Tahrir Square on Nov. 26.
Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
Mourners attend the funeral of activist Gaber Salah in Cairo.
Ahmed Abdel Fattah / AP
The tents of activists in Tahrir Square on Nov. 26.
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Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Protesters run from riot police during clashes at Tahrir Square in Cairo on November 23, 2012.
Khaled Elfiqi / EPA
Protesters shout slogans against President Morsi in Tahrir Square on November 23, 2012.
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
President Mohamed Morsi, center, speaks to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on November 23, 2012.
Reuters
A protester cheers as items ransacked from an office of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party burn in Alexandria on November 23, 2012.
NBC News staff and wire reports — Opposition protesters clashed with police in several Egyptian cities Friday after new Islamist President Mohammed Morsi awarded himself sweeping new powers.
Police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse tens of thousands of protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the center of anti-regime protests that ousted longtime U.S.-backed leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
"The people want to bring down the regime," shouted protesters, echoing a chant used in the anti-Mubarak uprising. "Get out, Morsi," they chanted. Read the full story.
Demonstrations erupt in major Egyptian cities after President Mohammed Morsi granted himself sweeping new judicial and legislative powers. NBC's Jim Maceda reports from Cairo.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Demonstrators protest on Mohamed Mahmoud street to mark the one-year anniversary of fatal clashes on the street, near the Interior Ministry, in Cairo, Nov. 19, 2012.
Reuters reports — Protesters scuffled with Cairo police on Monday during a rally by 5,000 people to mark the first anniversary of the death of at least 42 Egyptian demonstrators during interim military rule.
The demonstration underscored public pressure on elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to punish killings and abuses during security crackdowns by the military council that replaced Hosni Mubarak after his fall in a popular revolt last year. Full story…
Khalil Hamra / AP
Protesters chant slogans in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 12. Supporters of Egypt's new Islamist president stormed a stage erected by opposition activists, smashed loudspeakers and tore the structure down during competing protests Friday in Cairo. The scuffles between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi reflect deep political divisions among the country's 82 million people, more than a year after the popular uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
Reuters -- Opponents and supporters of Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi clashed in Cairo on Friday in the first street violence between rival factions since the Islamist leader took office.
Islamists and their opponents threw stones, bottles and petrol bombs, and some fought hand-to-hand, showing how feelings still run high between the rival groups trying to shape the new Egypt after decades of autocracy, even though the streets have generally been calmer since Mursi's election in June.
Khaled Desouki / AFP - Getty Images
An anti-Muslim Brotherhood and President Mohamed Morsi protester cries on the ground as a man tries to calm him down during clashes with Morsi supporters in Tahrir square, in Cairo, on Oct. 12, in the worst violence over Egypt's new Islamist leader, a day after he crossed swords with the judiciary. The health ministry said at least 12 people were wounded as protesters showered each other with stones, after Morsi supporters tore down a podium from which anti-Brotherhood chants were being orchestrated.
EPA
Egyptian Muslim brotherhood protesters take away an injured comrade hit during clashes with opponents of President Mohamed Mursi in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 12.
Activists were in the streets of Cairo today demanding more action from President Mohammed Morsi. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Youths stand in front of a graffiti with Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi face on a playing card along Mohamed Mahmoud street near Tahrir Square in Cairo on Sept. 21. No sooner had Egyptian authorities painted over a wall of revolutionary graffiti near Tahrir Square this week than the street artists were back with spray cans and a new target President Mohamed Mursi.
Khalil Hamra / AP
Egyptian artists work on graffiti on a newly whitewashed wall in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 21.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
A man draws graffiti along Mohamed Mahmoud street near Tahrir Square in Cairo on Sept. 21.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
A man looks on in front of graffiti with Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, former Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie along Mohamed Mahmoud street near Tahrir Square in Cairo on Sept. 21.
Reuters — No sooner had Egyptian authorities painted over a wall of revolutionary graffiti near Tahrir Square this week than the street artists were back with spray cans and a new target: President Mohamed Mursi.
Seeking to restore a sense of normalcy to Tahrir, scene of the democratic uprising that swept Hosni Mubarak from power last year, the authorities have deployed police, evicted unlicensed vendors and planted palm trees, shrubs and flowers.
'Erasing history': Egyptians bristle after graffiti murals painted over
But the move to whitewash graffiti charting the course of the revolt and the turbulent 18 months that followed was a step too far for the artists. They congregated to spray murals expressing anger with the government.
"This work embodied many things: the martyrs, the military regime and a people looking for freedom and democracy," said Ahmed Nadi, a political cartoonist, as he spray-painted caricatures of the bearded, bespectacled president who was elected in June in Egypt's first free presidential vote. Continue reading.
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Khalil Hamra / AP
Egyptian artists work on graffiti on a newly whitewashed wall in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 21. Under cover of darkness, a few municipality workers quietly began to paint over an icon of Egypt's revolution: a giant, elaborate public mural on the street that saw some of the most violent clashes between protesters and police over the past two years. Artists have since worked to cover the whitewash with new art.
Khalil Hamra / AP
An Egyptian man waves the national flag next to a graffiti on a newly whitewashed wall in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 21.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Protesters throw stones at riot policemen during clashes along a road leading to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, on September 14, 2012.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Riot policemen collect stones during clashes with protesters in Cairo on September 14, 2012.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Protesters run as riot policemen clear Tahrir Square and a road leading to the U.S. embassy in Cairo on September 14, 2012.
Ed Giles / Getty Images Contributor
A protester throws a rock toward riot police during clashes near the U.S. Embassy and Tahrir Square on September 14, 2012 in Cairo.
Ed Giles / Getty Images Contributor
A boy who was overcome by the effects of tear gas is carried away in Cairo on September 14, 2012. Over two hundred people have been injured in clashes between protesters and security forces.
Updated at 7:25 a.m. ET: NBC News staff and wire reports — Egyptian protesters angry at a film offending the Prophet Muhammad hurled stones at police near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Friday, as American missions across the Arab world and beyond tightened security in expectation of anti-U.S. demonstrations on the Muslim day of prayer.
Why films and cartoons of Muhammad spark violence
"God is greatest" and "There is no god but God," one group near the front of the clashes chanted, as police in riot gear fired tear gas and threw stones back in a street leading from the fortified embassy to nearby Tahrir Square, the locus point of massive demonstrations that led to the ouster of pro-American dictator Hosni Mubarak last year.
NYT: Egypt leaders caught in the middle in anti-US protests
The Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood said on Twitter that it was canceling its call for nationwide protests, but that it would still be present in Tahrir Square "for a symbolic protest against the movie." Read the full story.
Protests that led to the deaths of the U.S. Ambassador in Libya and three other Americans at the consulate in Benghazi spread across the region. NBC's Richard Engel in Egypt and NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin in Libya report on what might have triggered the attacks and the United States' history in the region.
Zoubeir Souissi / Reuters
Protests that led to the deaths of the U.S. Ambassador in Libya and three other Americans at the consulate in Benghazi spread across the region, ignited by a controversial film that ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
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Khalil Hamra / AP
Egyptian protesters carry an injured man during a third day of clashes with riot police near the U.S. Embassy and Tahrir Square in Cairo on Sept. 13. Protesters are angry over an obscure film critical of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
It's hard to look at these images of street battles in Cairo and not be reminded of last year's uprising in Tahrir Square. It's a bitter irony that to many Americans, those images, though sometimes violent, were hopeful, as a country tried to throw off a decades-old dictatorship. Now, of course, the U.S. is the target of the demonstrators' rage.
Khalil Hamra / AP
A protester runs from a burning police car.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Protesters set fire to police vehicles during clashes with riot police along a road which leads to the U.S. Embassy, near Tahrir Square.
Nasser Nasser / AP
A protester throws back a tear gas canister toward riot police.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Riot police take their positions during clashes.
Hussein Tallal / AP
Protesters burn tires as they clash with riot police outside the U.S. Embassy.
Zoubeir Souissi / Reuters
The U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed after protesters angry over a film that ridiculed Islam's Prophet Muhammad stormed the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, as protests spread across the region.
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