Egypt's interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi believes the latest protests in the country are "terrorist acts", according to his spokesman.

Sharif Shawqi was speaking during a televised news conference on Saturday.

It comes amid a tense stand-off with security forces and Muslim Brotherhood supporters who have barricaded themselves in at a mosque in the capital, Cairo.

Mr Shawqi said 173 people had died since Friday and hundreds injured.