Protesters in Tahrir Square on Saturday used shotgun pellets and Molotov cocktails against Interior Ministry forces, the ministry said in a statement Sunday.
Protesters also smashed cars, and damaged shops and other public property, the ministry said.
The ministry statement said 85 security personnel were wounded in the clashes and 55 protesters were arrested.
It said police forces withdrew from the square to reassure protesters' right to peaceful demonstration, and that the forced used with the protesters Saturday was within legal authorization granted by the law.
The ministry called on all political forces to be rational at this “sensitive” stage, and not to allow certain elements to take the protests outside the square.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
