Thousands of supporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood have defied a government-imposed crackdown to march through Cairo and Alexandria following Friday prayers.

In Cairo, Islamist supporters marched towards the site of sit-ins that had been broken up with tremendous force by the military in August. Army vehicles fired live rounds in the direction of Muslim Brotherhood supporters, who had been pushed away from the city's Tahrir Square by security forces, a witness told Reuters. At least one Muslim Brotherhood supporter was reportedly shot dead in the clashes.

Onlookers joined soldiers in their assault, throwing rocks at the demonstrators who then threw them back. Muslim Brotherhood supporters chanted slogans calling for the downfall of the military chief General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. Riot police had earlier fired teargas to push back the march.