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Police cars surrounded the square, the first time they had appeared in the area since November 23, shortly after a decree by the Islamist president giving himself sweeping temporary powers touched off widespread protests.
The attackers also threw petrol bombs which started a small fire, witnesses said. Many of the protesters, awakened by the noise, chanted: "The people want the downfall of the regime." Recorded recitations of the Koran were played over speakers in the square.
Leftists, liberals and other opposition groups have called for marches to the presidential palace in the afternoon to protest against the hastily arranged referendum on a new constitution planned for Saturday, which they say is polarizing the country.
Egypt army gets temporary power to arrest civilians ahead of referendum
Islamists, who dominated the body that drew up the constitution, have urged their followers to turn out "in millions" the same day in a show of support for the president and for a referendum they feel sure of winning and that critics say could put Egypt in a religious straitjacket.
Seven people were killed and hundreds wounded last week in clashes between the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and opponents besieging Morsi's graffiti-daubed presidential palace.
The elite Republican Guard has yet to use force to keep protesters away from the palace, now ringed with tanks, barbed wire and concrete barricades, but a decree issued by Morsi late on Sunday gives the armed forces the power to arrest civilians during the referendum and until the announcement of the results.
Leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy, one of the most prominent members of the National Salvation Front opposition coalition, said Morsi was driving a wedge between Egyptians and destroying prospects for consensus.
Egypt arrests suspect in US ambassador's killing
As well as pushing the early referendum, Morsi has angered opponents by taking sweeping temporary powers he said were necessary to secure the country's transition to stability after a popular uprising overthrew autocratic former president Hosni Mubarak 22 months ago.
"The road Mohamed Morsi is taking now does not create the possibility for national consensus," said Sabahy.
If the constitution was passed, he said: "Egypt will continue in this really charged state. It is certain that this constitution is driving us to more political polarization."
The National Salvation Front also includes Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohamed ElBaradei and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa.
The opposition says the draft constitution fails to embrace the diversity of 83 million Egyptians, a tenth of whom are Christians, and invites Muslim clerics to influence lawmaking.
Egypt's journalists struggle under Mubarak-era laws
But debate over the details has largely given way to noisy street protests and megaphone politics, keeping Egypt off balance and ill equipped to deal with a looming economic crisis.
Lamia Kamel, a spokeswoman for Moussa, said the opposition factions were still discussing whether to boycott the referendum or call for a "no" vote.
"Both paths are unwelcome because they really don't want the referendum at all," she said, but predicted a clearer opposition line if the plebiscite went ahead as planned.
Mahmoud Ghozlan, the Muslim Brotherhood's spokesman, said the opposition could stage protests, but should keep the peace.
"They are free to boycott, participate or say no; they can do what they want. The important thing is that it remains in a peaceful context to preserve the country's safety and security."
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The army stepped into the conflict on Saturday, telling all sides to resolve their disputes via dialogue and warning that it would not allow Egypt to enter a "dark tunnel."
The continuing disruption is also casting doubts on the government's ability to push through tough economic reforms that form part of a proposed $4.8 billion IMF loan agreement.
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Egypt on Fire Part Deux
Unfortunate, but I think this is going to have to get very violent. Islam is not compromising!
Unknown??? uuummmm...yeah...right...
It looks to me like the "Arab Spring" was used to catapult their country back into the dark ages. These people all have the islamic virus and as such cannot think in a logical manner. They thought they were going to get a real democracy by voting the muslime brotherhood into power? WTF? Brilliant! Now they have all of the freedom to do whatever the new dictator says they can do. I say it serves you right, you idiots. You have made your bed, now lay down on it and make sure you are face down for easy insertion of the islamic, democratic, staff of justice. Cigarette?
"Life is tough, it is even tougher when you are stupid." John Wayne
Attackers no doubt paid and planned by the Muslim Brotherhood. Possibly the same goons who ran amok last week sexually abusing women in the streets of Cairo. Egypt voted Morsi into office, so they will remove him and his paid henchmen just like they did for Hosni Mubarack.
You can't use the words "individual freedom" and "islamic government" in the same sentence.
The SHIITE is hittin the fan.
Clear choice. Do they want FREEDOM or do the want ISLAM ?
Well these Egyptians elected this guy,now they have to face the consequences of their folly.
It is only to be seen as to how ruthless this chap can get.
Best of luck Egyptians.
The MB is gonna push this through, they want total control over all humans rights and the ability to enforce Islamic values as they see it or as their "clerics" interpret it should be.
There can never be a true democracy and freedom of choice a until there is a cultural change and you elect someone is truly secular and eliminate as much of religion from the law making bodies. Islam will never accept or allow that to happen. Nor will the majority of what ever version of Islam (Sunni/Sheite) that is in power. IMHO, this is just another religious conflict within Islam that has fought for centuries and will never reach any kind of middle ground unless an outside source tries to interfere, then once that source is eliminated then they go back to fighting with each other. Best of luck.