Egypt cleans up after protest

One day after this Cairo street was turned into a battleground between protesters and soldiers, life is slowly returning to normal.

Crews swab the streets around Egypt's defence ministry where one person died and over 370 were injured on Friday.

Local residents blamed the protesters for starting the violence, the latest in what has been a rocky transition to democracy for Egypt.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABBASIYA RESIDENT WHO GAVE HIS NAME AS SHAABAAN, SAYING:

"When you see a soldier standing on duty, why would you clash with him? Yesterday, they (protesters) started; they started throwing rocks at the soldiers. The armed forces were very patient with them yesterday, they first used water hoses and loudspeakers. They used every method they could to avoid human casualties."

This was the scene on Friday as soldiers used water cannons and tear gas to dispense thousands of people protesting against the country's interim military government.

That body - the target of much popular anger - has promised to cede power following a presidential election, scheduled to begin later this month.

Andrew Raven, Reuters