At least 12 people were arrested in anti-government protests in several Egyptian cities on Friday.

Police arrested 10 protesters in Alexandria, where the banned Muslim Brotherhood staged five marches against the government and also demanded the release of their detained colleagues, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

In Nile Delta city of Damietta two Brotherhood members were arrested at similar demonstrations.

Meanwhile, police in Cairo fired teargas at demonstrators in Ain Shams district, a regular site of demonstrations despite a security crackdown that has seen thousands arrested.

Police also dispersed protests elsewhere in Cairo and Giza, including in the districts of Boulaq Al-Dakrour, Al-Waraq and Saft Al-Laban.

Egyptian authorities banned the Muslim Brotherhood last year and declared it a terrorist organisation.

The government also introduced a law in November 2013 banning protests that had not received permission from the police to go ahead. Hundreds have been jailed under its provisions, including a number of well-known secular activists.