Audio By Carbonatix
Tear gas has been fired to disperse demonstrators in Egypt, at some of the first protests since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi took power in 2014.
Hundreds of Egyptians filled Tahrir Square in Cairo - a key site of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution - demanding his resignation.
Demonstrations also reportedly took place elsewhere around the country.
The protests are in response to corruption allegations against President Sisi's government.
An Egyptian businessman and actor, Mohamed Ali, has posted a series of videos online accusing the leader of wasting millions on luxury residences and hotels while millions of Egyptians live in poverty. Egypt has pursued a policy of economic austerity in recent years.
Small protest, maybe 100-200 people near #Tahrir chanting against regime like 20 min ago, now scattered, still lot of unrest #Egypt pic.twitter.com/vx6H7nk76l
— Eduard Cousin (@EduardCousin) September 20, 2019
President Sisi has dismissed the allegations as "lies and slander".
What's happening in Egypt?
"Sisi out" and "The people want to overthrow the regime" topped Egyptian Twitter's trending list late on Friday.
Hundreds of anti-regime protesters were in and around Tahrir Square despite efforts to disperse them.
Even a few days ago such scenes would have "unthinkable", BBC correspondent Sally Nabil tweeted.
Demonstrations were also reported in Egypt's second-largest city Alexandria and in Suez, according to Al Jazeera.
Mr Ali, who lives in self-imposed exile in Spain, posted his first video on 2 September. In a video posted on Tuesday, he reportedly said that if President Sisi did not resign by Thursday "the Egyptian people will come out to the squares on Friday in protest".
In 2013, Mr Sisi led the military's overthrow of Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, following protests against his rule.
Since then, he has overseen what human rights groups say is an unprecedented crackdown on dissent that has led to the detention of tens of thousands of people.
Egyptians voted to approve constitutional changes in April that could extend Mr Sisi's term in office until 2030, on a turnout of 44%.
He won 97% of the vote in 2018's presidential election, when he faced no serious opposition.
Latest Stories
-
Ablakwa receives Presidential Special Envoy on Reparations to advance global agenda
6 minutes -
Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II
17 minutes -
Epstein survivors’ calls to meet King Charles and Queen harder to ignore as US visit approaches
22 minutes -
UN Secretary-General names Ghana’s Anita Kiki Gbeho as South Sudan envoy
24 minutes -
Mali withdraws recognition of Sahrawi Republic, backs Morocco’s autonomy plan
28 minutes -
Gov’t distributes over 8,500 laptops to One Million Coders project
30 minutes -
Julius Debrah, ‘man to beat’ as NDC’s James Agbey dismisses Musah Dankwah’s polls
36 minutes -
GPRTU in Savannah Region to protest alleged eviction in Damongo
1 hour -
Re: Reinsurance does not replace process — A response to the SIGA–SIC defence
1 hour -
Gender Ministry supports Harriet Amuzu in ongoing abuse case
2 hours -
AG joins plaintiff to scrap OSP ?: We should be mindful of the mischief in this – Bobby Banson
2 hours -
Samson Lardy Anyenini questions willingness of Attorneys-General to prosecute political colleagues
2 hours -
It is only fair the OSP is heard in Supreme Court case – Bobby Banson
2 hours -
Asiedu Nketia resumes Ashanti tour, second leg kicks off on Sunday
2 hours -
NLA denies salary cut claims, threatens legal action over reports
2 hours