Police, anti-Assad protesters clash in Egypt

16 arrested as mob tries to replace official flag with Free Syrian Army’s flag

CAIRO (AP) — Witnesses say Egyptian security forces have clashed with dozens of protesters in front of the Syrian Embassy in Cairo, chanting against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

A security official says seven protesters were arrested and 16 people were injured, including soldiers, in the stone-throwing clash. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

Protesters chanted, “down with the Bashar (Assad) regime.” They tried but failed to break through the security cordon surrounding the embassy building to hang a Free Syrian Army flag and take down the official one, witnesses said.

Clashes then spread to nearby US Embassy.

During the 17-month-Syrian uprising, anti-Assad protests in Cairo have been relatively small. Egypt has hosted conferences of Syrian opposition groups.