Fresh Clashes in Egypt

Thousands of protesters clashed with police in several Egyptian provinces in rallies calling on President Mohamed Morsi to fulfil the goals of the revolt that brought him to power.Nearly  120 people were injured in the unrest across the country Friday, the health ministry said.

In Cairo, protesters lobbed petrol bombs and set off fireworks, as security vans charged towards demonstrators who fled down the large avenue flanking the presidential palace.

Clashes erupted in several cities and towns in the Nile Delta province of Gharbiya, where the health ministry said 28 people had been injured, mainly from tear gas inhalation.

In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, 20 people were hurt in sporadic clashes between police and protesters, said the ministry.The confrontations came after thousands took to the streets across Egypt answering a call by opposition groups for "Friday of dignity" rallies.

Prime Minister Hisham Qandil condemned the violence as "unjustifiable" in comments cited by the official MENA news agency.Those responsible were "damaging the stability of the country and obstructing the interests of citizens", he said. Egypt witnessed regular, often bloody, protests against Morsi.

His opponents say he has betrayed the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak, accusing him of using his power to promote the interests of his Muslim Brotherhood, long banned under his predecessor.

The country has been deeply divided between Morsi's supporters and an opposition of liberals, leftists, Christians but also deeply religious Muslims calling for rights and the separation of religion and state.

Shortly after Muslim noon prayers, marchers set off from several locations in Cairo to Tahrir Square and the presidential palace, banging on drums, waving flags and clapping in unison.

In Tahrir, several thousand protesters carried a huge Egyptian flag as they listened to speeches and music from the stage.

Several hundred protesters also gathered outside the presidential palace chanting "Freedom, where are you? Brotherhood rule stands between us," a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood movement from which Morsi hails.

Protests against the president also took place after the weekly Friday Muslim main prayers in several of Egypt's 27 provinces.

In the Nile Delta city of Kafr el-Sheikh, police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd outside a government building, as protesters hurled stones at the security forces, MENA reported.

In the city of Tanta, police clashed with protesters who tried to break into the municipal council building.