Youths fought Egyptian police in Cairo and Alexandria yesterday on the second anniversary of the revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak and brought the election of an Islamist president who protesters accuse of riding roughshod over democracy.

The demonstrations illustrated the divide between the Islamists and their secular foes, which is hindering President Mohamed Mursi's efforts to revive an economy in crisis and reverse a plunge in Egypt's currency by enticing back investors and tourists.

The sense of common purpose that united Egyptians two years ago has given way to internal strife and the Egyptian pound has sunk to record lows against the dollar.