Hundreds of Egyptians took to the streets today in protest against former military chief Adbel-Fattah el-Sissi's decision to stand in coming presidential elections.

Rallies were held in several cities, including in and around Cairo and in the northern city of Alexandria.

Protesters tried to block the main road in Cairo that leads to the Giza pyramids with burning tyres, but officials said they had the situation under control.

Police arrested 38 supporters of Islamist former president Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted from power by the military in July, at protests in Giza, Mansoura and Minya.

Officials said students from the Islamic university of Al-Azhar had thrown rocks and petrol bombs at police and soldiers.

In a televised speech late on Wednesday, Field Marshal Sissi said he would retire from the military to launch his campaign.

He is widely expected to win.

His supporters also rallied in Alexandria and Cairo on Friday, waving Egyptian flags and raising posters bearing his picture.

In his first interview following his resignation, published in the Egyptian al-Watan and Kuwaiti al-Rai papers, he claimed that he would offer "a practical plan that could be implemented in reality on the short term."

In Port Said, two assailants on a motorcycle torched a stand built by locals supporting the military candidate that was being used to distribute campaign materials.