Egypt Interior Ministry: 183 rioters arrested during Friday demos

Egypt Interior Ministry: 183 rioters arrested during Friday demos

Egyptian security forces arrested 138 "rioters" during nationwide protests staged Friday by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, the Interior Ministry said, Anadolu Agency reported.

According to a ministry statement, protesters blocked roads, prompting security forces to disperse the rallies with water cannons and teargas.

Protesters were warned before police forces moved in to break up the demonstrations, the ministry claimed, stressing that Friday's protests had not been authorized by the authorities.

At least 106 of those arrested on Friday were picked up in Cairo, according to the ministry statement.

Egyptian police dispersed several pro-Morsi rallies on Friday under newly-approved legislation ostensibly aimed at "regulating" street protests.

Friday's rallies were called by the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, Morsi's main support bloc, to mark the passage of 100 days since 35 pro-Morsi demonstrators were killed while in police custody.

The recently-approved law gives security forces the right to deny protest organizers permission to demonstrate if the planned event is deemed a "threat to security or public safety" or if security conditions are found to be "inappropriate."

According to the law, violators will either be fined or imprisoned - penalties that have provoked outrage on the part of many Egyptian politicians and activists who say the legislation curbs basic freedoms and gives police free rein to bar popular expressions of dissent.

Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, was ousted by Egypt's military establishment on July 3 following a series of demonstrations against his presidency.