The demonstration was the latest flashpoint against Mr Morsi's new administration

Thousands of Egyptian demonstrators laid siege to President Morsi’s palace in Cairo yesterday as protests against his attempt to ram through a new constitution escalated.

Large crowds pushed through police barricades after coming under teargas fire from security forces. A video posted online by the Egyptian news network Rassd showed a convoy leaving the palace through a riot police cordon as protesters chanted “coward” and “leave”. Officials later insisted that Mr Morsi had not fled from the compound but left for a prior engagement.

Although yesterday’s demonstrations were smaller than the mass protests a week ago, public dissatisfaction with the way the President’s Muslim Brotherhood has monopolised the legislative process shows no sign of abating.

Mr Morsi has called for a referendum on December 15