OPPONENTS of Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi scuffled with his supporters yesterday during a demonstration that posed the first test of the Islamist leader's popularity on the street.

Egyptians had been nervous that an anti-Mursi protest could turn violent and in Cairo's Tahrir Square rival groups hurled stones at each other. Some wielded sticks and charged their opponents.

Scenes were calmer in other areas of the city where Mr Mursi's opponents also gathered.

Activists accuse Mr Mursi of seeking to monopolise government after he wrested back powers that the military council had sought to retain for itself.

But several liberal groups usually critical of the Muslim Brotherhood stayed away from the protest, including the April 6 youth movement that helped galvanise support to oust President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Those declining to demonstrate did so either because they felt it was too early to judge Mr Mursi, two months into his presidency, or that any challenge should be by ballot box.

The violence flared when bangs went off nearby, but it was not clear if they were caused by a weapon, fireworks or something else, a witness said.

The organisers also want a probe into the funding of the Brotherhood, which has dominated the political scene since Mubarak was toppled.