The Egyptian Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) on Friday imposed curfew in Cairo's Abbasiya square and area around the Defense Ministry amid fierce clashes which left one soldier killed and 296 injured.

The curfew will last from Friday's 11:00 pm (2100 GMT) to Saturday's 7:00 am (0500 GMT), main streets and bridges will remain closed under the curfew, said Major General Mukhtar el- Mulla.

The SCAF will take legal measures against those who are responsible for the clashes and violence in Abbasiya, said Mulla. Dozens of people had been arrested so far.

Military police fired tear gas at protesters who were pushed back from outside of the Defense Ministry to Abbasiya square. The April 6 movement, one of the organizers of Friday's demonstration, announced that they were withdrawing from the area to avoid bloodshed, official Al-Ahram website reported.

Thousands of Egyptians on Friday flocked to Tahrir Square and Abbasiya Square in downtown Cairo, demanding the military council to step down and holding a fair presidential election as scheduled.

The protest was summoned by some political parties after a deadly clash erupted in Abbasiya square which killed nine people and injured more than 100.

Clashes broke out Friday afternoon between thousands of protestors and military police in Abbasiya, leaving 296 people injured from both sides.