Update: Police arrest four students for violence outside Cairo University

Police forces arrested four alleged assailants following Sunday's clashes in front of Cairo University. State-owned Al-Ahram daily newspaper reported that they are students at an Al-Azhar institute in the district of Imbaba, and were involved in disrupting traffic and setting a broadcasting van on fire. 

The Students Against the Coup Movement, a group opposing the removal of former President Mohamed Morsi, announced it would hold marches in universities nationwide Sunday in protest against a renewed police presence on Egyptian campuses.

Clashes between students and police forces erupted in and around Cairo University shortly after the protests started on Sunday afternoon. ONtv satellite station reported on its Twitter account that students assaulted the channel's correspondent near the campus and set their van on fire. Tear gas was fired inside the campus.

State-owned daily newspaper Al-Ahram earlier reported that eight Central Security Forces trucks arrived in Al-Nahda Square close to Cairo University after students began protesting there.

Demonstrations started in Cairo and Ain Shams universities Sunday afternoon to protest the return of Ministry of Interior guards on campuses, as well as the removal of President Morsi. Students at both universities marched around campuses chanting against the current government.

Schools and universities returned for the beginning of second semester on Saturday after a two-week delay. The first semester, which started in September, witnessed a string of violent clashes between security forces and protesting students in several universities.

The most violent clashes took place at Al-Azhar University where three students died in clashes throughout the semester and Cairo University where one student was killed.

Several students were arrested amid campus unrest and are currently in detention awaiting trial.

Classes will not start at Al-Azhar University until March 15. The government said that the delay was necessary to finish the renovation of buildings damaged during the first semester's violence.

Violent clashes erupted inside Al-Azhar University during final exams last December. The Faculty of Commerce building was torched, leading to the postponement of exams until January.

Following the unrest, the government issued a controversial decision in February to allow Ministry of Interior guards back on university campuses.

University guards became notorious during former President Hosni Mubarak's rule for cracking down on opposition students and rigging student union election results.

In 2008, an administrative court ruled for the removal of the Interior Ministry guards from universities. The ruling was still not acted on in 2010, even after the Supreme Administrative Court supported it.

In March 2011, following the removal of Mubarak, then-Minister of Interior Mansour al-Essawy finally executed the ruling, replacing the ministry’s men with civilian guards in what was considered a major victory for on-campus student movements.

State-owned daily newspaper Al-Ahram reported on Sunday morning that Ministry of Interior forces were not seen around Cairo University, leaving civilian guards to secure the area.