Egyptian protesters stand in front of barbed wire beyond the presidential palace in Cairo, December 4, 2012.
Egyptian riot police Tuesday fired tear gas outside the presidential palace as tens of thousands of protesters marched against President Mohamed Morsi.
Police tried to stop the crowd from storming the palace where Morsi was inside conducting business. The police soon retreated and let the marchers through a barrier and up to the palace walls. Egyptian officials say Morsi had left the palace during the march.
Egypt's Draft Constitution
Egypt's Draft Constitution
Limits president to two four-year terms
Provides protections against arbitrary detention and torture
Islamic law, or Sharia, serves as the basis for legislation
Religious freedom is limited to Muslims, Christians and Jews
Citizens are deemed equal before the law and equal in rights
Many of the marchers chanted the same anti-government slogans used in the uprising that toppled former authoritarian president Hosni Mubarak.
Protest leaders called Tuesday's march a last warning to Morsi to back down from his decree giving himself nearly unlimited powers and placing himself above the judiciary. They also are marching against a draft constitution that the opposition says was drawn up by Islamists, without input from secularists and liberals.
A referendum on the constitution is set for December 15.
Also Tuesday, 11 Egyptian newspapers suspended publication to protest the draft constitution. Journalists say it puts restrictions on free speech.
Egypt Protests Continue
1/13Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans during a demonstration outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
2/13A supporter of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi chants slogans during clashes with opponents, not pictured, outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
3/13Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s supporters beat an opponent, center, during clashes outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
4/13Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s supporters clash with opponents, not pictured, outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
5/13Egyptian protesters chant anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans during a demonstration outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
6/13An Egyptian protester with Arabic writing on his forehead that reads, "Muslims and Christians, one hand," attends a demonstration outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
7/13A young boy waves a national flag from his mother's shoulders as protesters chant slogans in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, December 4, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
8/13Anti-Morsi protesters run from smoke from a tear gas canister thrown by riot police, during clashes in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, December 4, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
9/13Protesters chant slogans and wave national flags in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, December 4, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
10/13Activists wave an old Soviet and Russian national flags in front of a barricade at the regional administration building, in Donetsk, Ukraine.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
11/13Protesters chant anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans during a rally in front of the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, December 4, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
12/13Protesters chant anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans during a rally in front of the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, December 4, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
13/13Riot police stand guard behind barbed wire while protesters chant anti Muslim Brotherhood slogans during a demonstration in front of the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, December 4, 2012.
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo in several demonstrations Tuesday and Wednesday. The protests started more than one week ago.
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