By TONY G. GABRIEL and MARIAM RIZK
Supporter of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi raise their arms during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi raise his poster and their hands with four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August, during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013.(AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
A supporter of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi holds a mask bearing his picture as he raises his hands with four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August, during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi raise his poster and their hands with four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August, during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi raise his poster and their hands with four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August, during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. Arabic reads, “Morsi is my president, no for coup.” (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
A supporter of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi wears a ribbon with hands with four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August, during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
A supporter of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi shouts slogans during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. The banner in the background shows four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
A supporter of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi holds a birthday cake with a design of the four raised fingers which is symbolic among the supporters as others protest nearby in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. The cake was decorated with four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August. She and her friend were celebrating the birthday day of their friend, right. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Mideast Egypt
Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi raise his poster during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. The poster also shows four raised fingers, which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters had held a sit-in for weeks that was violently dispersed in August. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
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CAIRO (AP) — Supporters of Egypt’s toppled president clashed with opponents Friday as security forces fired tear gas to break up their demonstrations over detained female protesters, part of an effort to draw wider support for their dwindling rallies.
Meanwhile, the panel rewriting Egypt’s constitution approved an amendment abolishing the upper house of the country’s parliament, a decision that ultimately will rest with the country’s voters.
Egypt has seen near-daily protests across the country since a July 3 popularly backed military coup ousted President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood-backed government from power. Friday, protesters again took to the streets after prayers to voice their dissent.
Clashes followed in some areas. In the city of Suez, a security official said one person was seriously injured after being shot in the head during clashes between Morsi supporters and local residents. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds, the official said.
In Cairo, clashes erupted near the Giza pyramids, with fighters firing birdshot, hurling stones and using gasoline bombs, the official said. Police also used tear gas to end the clash, the official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to brief journalists.
In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, an Associated Press journalist also saw security forces fire tear gas to end clashes there.
Organizers called Friday’s protests “Egypt’s women are a red line,” referring to the arrest of 21 female demonstrators in Alexandria in October. Authorities accuse the demonstrators, including seven girls, of inciting violence and blocking roads during clashes there.
Mahmoud Gaber, the lawyer representing the 21 detained protesters, said their detention was “politically motivated.”
“A criminal has his legal rights respected,” Gaber said. “But for those who are against the military coup, they can’t even have their human rights respected.”
By making the protests not just about Morsi and the coup, organizers tried to draw new support to the rallies. While they continue, the number of participants has dropped drastically as a sharp security crackdown has seen thousands of Morsi supporters and Brotherhood members arrested.
Meanwhile Friday, the spokesman for the panel rewriting Egypt’s constitution said it voted for an amendment eliminating the Shura Council, the upper house of the country’s parliament.
The Shura Council took on a lawmaking role during Morsi’s tenure. Later, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled the body unconstitutional just before Morsi’s ouster.
Authorities suspended the constitution after the coup. The amended constitution will be put to Egyptian voters for them to approve or reject within a month after the panel presents to the draft to interim President Adly Mansour.
Authorities hope to hold parliamentary and presidential elections next year, following a military-backed plan to return democracy to Egypt after the coup.
