Hundreds of protesters who marched on Egypt's High Judiciary Court in downtown Cairo to protest against president Mohamed Morsi's decree were attacked by unknown assailants.

The liberal Constitution Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the liberal Wafd Party were protesting Morsi's recent constitutional declaration and voicing support to judges who were holding an extraordinary general assembly inside the building to discuss responses to Morsi's decree.

Ahram Online reporters at the scene said the demonstrators were attacked with fireworks, which stirred panic among them as everyone ran aimlessly to escape violence. One protester was bleeding following the attack.

Police has arrived on the scene and are using tear gas canisters to disperse protesters.

The protesters gathered in front of the High court as members of the Judiciary General Assembly mulled measures to oppose Morsi’s highly-controversial decree.

They chanted "the people demand the downfall of the regime" and "Freedom, Bread, the dissolution of constituent assembly," in reference to the embattled Islamist-dominated constitution writing body.

Judges were due to go to Tahrir square, the cradle of last year’s revolution, to continue their demonstrations.

[link to english.ahram.org.eg]