CAIRO - A small gathering of Egyptian anti-government activists tried to stage a second day of protests in Cairo Wednesday in defiance of a ban on any gatherings, but police quickly moved and disperse the group.
Activists used social networking sites to call for fresh demonstrations but Facebook, a key tool used to organise protests, appeared to be at least partially blocked in the afternoon.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Journalists' Union in downtown Cairo chanted: "Oh Egyptian people, be brave and join us".
Across the Egyptian capital on Wednesday, thousands of riot police were deployed in anticipation of fresh anti-government, Tunisia-inspired protests.
A day earlier, tens of thousands demonstrated in Cairo and several other Egyptian cities to call for a solution to rampant poverty, rising prices and high unemployment.
