Military police used force to disperse a protest outside the Defence Ministry yesterday, firing tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition.
Anti-military protesters clashed with troops, leaving a soldier and another person dead and prompting the military to impose an overnight curfew.
The 179 protesters, who would be detained for 15 days, have been charged with assaulting army forces, joining a group to undermine public security, assembling on public roads and hampering public transportation.
They are also charged with gathering in a military location they were prohibited from, according to a local watchdog, 'The Front to Defend Egypt's Protesters'.
Following yesterday's crackdown, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the violent response of the army, and stressed "the people's right" to demonstrate in a peaceful manner, his deputy spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey said.
Following the breakup of the sit-in in Abbasseya, the Front to Defend Egypt's Protesters claimed that the military had committed several violations, including random arrests of people and targeting of journalists.
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Reports about the number of people arrested were mixed.
Local rights group 'No Military Trials for Civilians' provided the names of 329 detainees following the protests, including 18 women.
The 'Front to Defend Egypt's Protesters', on the other hand, said in a statement that around 220 people were arrested, some of whom are in hospital. It said among the arrested were 16 women. (MORE)