Gunshots ring out in Tahrir Square

New clashes are heating up again and shots are being fired in the air around Cairo’s central Tahrir Square as anti-government protesters push back regime supporters.

The two sides are trading volleys of stone-throwing,but government backers are falling back and protesters are swarming onto a highway overpass from which their rivals had pelted them with stones and firebombs overnight.

Soldiers,who earlier Thursday had separated the two sides and pushed back the pro-government side in an effort to stop the violence,appeared to be allowing the protesters to advance without stopping them. Gunshots,apparently being fired in the air,were heard,but it was not clear who was firing them.