At least five people have been killed in clashes in Cairo amid protests by Muslim Brotherhood supporters, days after hundreds of its supporters were sentenced to death.

Hundreds of Brotherhood supporters took to the streets in scattered protests across Egypt on Friday, in some instances throwing missiles at police who fired tear gas.

On its website, newspaper Al Dustour said one of its journalists, Mayada Ashraf, died covering fighting which security sources said had involved Brotherhood supporters, security forces and residents.

State-run news agency MENA quoted an unnamed interior ministry official as saying five citizens were killed in the clashes, blaming Brotherhood supporters for the deaths.

It added nine Brotherhood supporters suspected of opening fire on citizens had been detained.

The Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice party published a statement on its Facebook page blaming security forces for the death of the journalist.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed Mr Morsi after mass protests, on Wednesday announced his resignation as army chief and his intention to run in presidential elections that he is widely expected to win.

Supporters of Mr Morsi’s Brotherhood, which has been outlawed and branded a terrorist group by the army-backed authorities, see Mr Sisi as the leader of a coup against a democratically elected president.

Since Mr Morsi’s overthrow the authorities have staged a crackdown on the Brotherhood, killing hundreds and arresting thousands, including most of its top leaders.

The Brotherhood says it is committed to peaceful activism.

A court sentenced more than 500 Brotherhood supporters to death on Monday, triggering clashes between security forces and protesters in which at least one man was killed on Wednesday.

Egypt has seen three years of political turmoil since an uprising ended Hosni Mubarak’s three decades of one-man rule.

Reuters