At least 17 killed in protests on anniversary of Egypt uprising

Police keep guard in a vehicle as others disperse an anti-government demonstration in Mataryya area, east of Cairo January 25, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Egypt marks January 25 as a national day as Mubarak was ousted on that day four years ago. The state was supposed to hold official celebration on Sunday but mourning the death of late Saudi King Abdullah led the country to cancel the event.

Mostly, Egyptians are divided over January 25 uprising, as some refer it as a popular revolt for change and democracy while others consider it a conspiracy to destabilize Egypt.

The 2011 popular uprising toppled Mubarak and brought the Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi to office in 2012, but the former Islamist president was ousted by the military in July 2013 after mass protests against his one-year rule.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who led Morsi's removal as military chief then, made a statement on Saturday and referred to the anniversary of January 25 uprising as "a new torch for hope, progress and action."

Meanwhile, security sources told government-run Ahram newspaper' s website that police forces contained most of the protests across Egypt, adding that security forces arrested 130 members of the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group nationwide during Sunday's protests.

The sources said the detainees, some armed with guns, participated in violent clashes against police forces and vandalism acts against government buildings and public property.

Although the police announced it defused a number of terrorist bombs, a number of explosions took place since Sunday morning, causing no casualties.

Egypt has experienced months of terrorist acts and violent protests since the army toppled Morsi in July, 2013.

Violence by Morsi's supporters has claimed the lives of hundreds of security forces members.