Socialist Popular Alliance Party activist Shaima al-Sabbagh (middle) was shot and died of birdshot wounds during clashes with Egyptian police during a protest in central Cairo today on the eve of the anniversary of the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak
Al-Sabbagh can be seen, right, hitting the ground as a fellow protester comes to her aide during the clashes
Fellow protesters said Al-Sabbagh was shot by police trying to disperse those involved in the protest march
Al-Sabbagh, a member of the party, was hit in the head with birdshot, and was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead.
The interior ministry said it was investigating the death, and suggested Islamist 'infiltrators' were to blame.
The clash took place hours before state television aired a pre-recorded speech by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to mark the fourth anniversary of the uprising.
He said: 'I salute all our martyrs, from the beginning of January 25 (2011) until now.'
The speech appears to have been taped in the presidential palace before Sisi left for Saudi Arabia to offer his condolences over the death of King Abdullah.
Islamists called for protests tomorrow to revive what they say was the 'revolution' that overthrew Mubarak. It also briefly brought to power Islamist president Mohamed Morsi who was toppled by the then army chief Sisi in July 2013.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said al-Sabbagh's death was being investigated and vowed that 'whoever committed a mistake will be punished, whoever he may be'
Morsi's supporters often hold small rallies that police quickly disperse.
Yesterday an 18-year-old female protester was killed in clashes in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. Police had warned they would confront protests 'decisively.'
Authorities have cracked down on the Islamists since the military overthrew Morsi after a year in power, and hundreds have been killed in clashes.
Scores of policemen and soldiers have also been killed in militant attacks.
The crackdown has also extended to leftwing and secular dissidents who initially supported Morsi's overthrow but have since turned against the new authorities, accusing them of being authoritarian.
Today's central Cairo protest was organised by the Socialist Popular Alliance party.
Egyptian policemen detain a supporter of the People's Alliance Party during a demonstration in Cairo's Talaat Harb square, near Tahrir square
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood movement leave as security forces arrive to disperse a demonstration on January 24, 2015 in the Cairo district of Heliopolis
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