Police have fired tear gas to stop protesters from approaching the presidential palace in Cairo after tens of thousands took to the streets in demonstrations, Belfast Telegraph said.

The violence erupted when protesters against the assumption of nearly absolute powers by the nation's Islamist leader pushed aside a barricade topped with barbed wire several hundred yards from the palace walls. Police fired tear gas, and then retreated.

The march came amid rising anger over a hurriedly adopted draft constitution by president Mohammed Morsi's allies and decrees giving him sweeping powers. Mr Morsi called for a referendum on the draft constitution on December 15.