Major mosques have been ordered to close amid fears Muslim Brotherhood supporters could take control of them, according to an official source at the Egyptian Endowments Ministry.

There have been clear instructions to close mosques after each prayer session for fear people may hide weapons inside them, which the ministry strongly prohibits, the source added.

Official instructions were sent to workers in major mosques, including Nour Mosque in Abbaseya and Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque in Mohandiseen, to close them after each prayer, so as not to let mosques become a focus point in clashes or a store for weapons.

Fateh Mosque in Ramses Square became the focus of fighting on Saturday afternoon as security forces cleared the building of protesters.

Hundreds of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy had taken shelter in the mosque following bloody clashes with security forces on Friday, which the Muslim Brotherhood had dubbed its "Day of Rage."

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm