Protesters Clash In Alexandria, Police Fire Tear Gas

Antigovernment protester shouts slogans in front of burning cars during clashes with pro-government supporters in Alexandria on December 14.

Police have fired tear gas at clashing protesters in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.

Several protesters were reported injured as groups of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and secular oppositionists threw rocks at one another on December 21.

The violence broke out after several thousand Muslim Brotherhood supporters gathered to support the draft constitution on which the country will vote in a second round of a national referendum on December 22.

Opponents say the draft constitution would move the country closer to an Islamist state.

Unofficial results showed more than half of those who cast ballots in the first round on December 15 backed the draft.

Last week, clashes in Alexandria between supporters and opponents of the draft kept a Muslim cleric trapped in a mosque for 12 hours.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP