Egypt's opposition Muslim Brotherhood says authorities have arrested 56 people during protests in sympathy with the plight of Gaza Palestinians. A Brotherhood statement says the arrests took place on Friday during two separate rallies - both organised by the group - in the northern Nasr City suburb of Cairo.
The protesters marched demanding Egypt open its border with the Gaza Strip and denounced Israel's recent three-week offensive that left 1,300 Palestinians dead, many of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis also died in the fighting.
No violence was reported during the protests and it was unclear why the arrests took place.
Authorities confirmed the arrests but said about 40 people were detained in Cairo. The different figures could not immediately be accounted for.