Cairo — Supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi clashed Friday in the worst violence since he took office, violence ended up when while Security forces pumped volleys of tear gas.

Hundreds of people had launched a sit-in late on Friday and vowed to stay for a week, but by morning few remained.

Morsi has polarised opinion after he passed a decree giving himself near-absolute powers.

He says he is leading Egypt to "freedom and democracy". Defending his decision at a rally at Cairo's presidential palace on Friday, Morsi said he was the guardian of political, economic and social stability, but that he wanted to see a "genuine opposition, a strong opposition".