Egypt's prosecution ordered on Sunday the arrest of Refaa al-Tahtawi, head of the former president’s office and his deputy Asaad Mohamed Sheikha in relation to the violence that erupted near the Ittihadiya presidential palace in December.

They are to be held for 15 days pending investigations.

On December 5, clashes erupted between supporters of the deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and opposition activists outside the presidential palace, leaving at least five people dead.