Egyptians protest, demand Sisi's overthrow after president leaves Egypt for US

Hundreds of Egyptians took to Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday demanding the resignation of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The demonstration came in response to calls for protests by a self-exiled Egyptian businessman who recently claimed large-scale corruption by the military and government.

Security forces attempted to break up the gathering in Cairo, with skirmishes taking place between police and protesters in the roads leading up to Tahrir Square.

Protesters were seen on videos posted to social media calling for Sisi's resignation, as well as chanting: "The people demand the overthrow of the regime" - a chant popularised during the Arab Spring protests of 2011.

Tear gas was deployed by police in the roads leading to the square to disperse protesters who were chanting anti-Sisi slogans, according to The New Arab's Arabic-language service.

A number of protesters were also arrested on by police, who reportedly bundled them into vans. Security forces were reportedly able to close all entrance points to Tahrir Square by 9:30pm local time.

Police sources said "dozens" of young men were arrested for their participation in the protests. Egypt outlawed all unauthorised protests in 2013 when Sisi, as defence minister, led the military's overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president amid mass protests against his brief rule.

Friday's unrest followed a call to action by real estate developer Mohamed Ali - an army-linked contractor who has released dozens of videos levelling serious accusations of corruption and embezzlement against Sisi and senior Egyptian officials.