Violent clashes erupted on Tuesday between supporters and opponents of the newly appointed Culture Minister, Alaa Abdel Aziz, outside the headquarters of Egypt's Ministry of Culture.

Abdel Aziz has sparked disagreement amid intellectuals and artists by his decisions to sack a number of employees from his ministry.

In return, a number of artists and intellectuals have started a sit-in inside the culture ministry, insisting on the dismissal of Abdel Aziz from his post.

Dozens of Islamists gathered earlier today outside the ministry headquarters in Zamalek to support the Culture Minister, reported the Middle East News Agency.

Both sides clashed and hurled stones at each other, causing the injury of some of both the supporters and the opponents.