Dozens of Egyptian pro-democracy protesters detained in sweeping arbitrary arrests

Hundreds of people joined night-time demonstrations around Tahrir Square - the epicentre of the 2011 revolution that toppled the country's long-time autocratic leader.

Amid a heavy security presence, including riot police and plainclothes police officers, protesters were rounded up.

"The numbers of those arrested across a number of demonstrations in Cairo are between 400-500," lawyer Amr Imam, who was an eyewitness, told The New Arab's Arabic site.

Civil rights group the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms also confirmed that dozens were arrested in the capital city.

The group, which documents arbitrary arrests and forced disappearances in Egypt, urged protesters to get in touch if they witnessed any arrests.

Regime forces also made arrests in a number of cities that saw protests, including Alexandria, Al-Mahalla and Suez, sources told The New Arab. 

Demonstrations are rare after Egypt effectively banned protests under a law passed following the 2013 military ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi. 

Under the rule of general-turned-president Sisi, who led Morsi's ouster, authorities have launched a broad crackdown on dissidents, jailing thousands of Islamists as well as secular activists and popular bloggers.

Footage of the demonstrations, in which dozens chant "Leave Sisi", was shared online using the hashtag #Tahrir_Square, which was trending worldwide.

The protests come on the back of Mohamed Ali, a disgruntled exiled Egyptian businessman, demanding the toppling of Sisi.

The construction contractor has been posting viral videos from Spain since the beginning of September accusing Sisi and the military of rampant corruption.

Sisi flatly denied the allegations last week at a youth conference assuring Egyptians he "was honest and faithful" to his people and the military.

In his latest video posted early on Friday morning on his growing social media accounts, Ali urged Egyptians to head to the streets after a highly anticipated football match between Cairo powerhouses Al Ahly and Zamalek in the Super Cup.

Widely shared videos online have also shown scattered protests varying in numbers in Alexandria, Al-Mahalla, Damietta and Suez.

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