CAIRO (AP) -- Egypt's military deployed on the streets of Cairo to enforce a nighttime curfew as the sun set Friday on a day of rioting and chaos that amounted to the biggest challenge ever to authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year regime. Flames rose up across a number of cities from burning tires and police cars. Even the ruling party headquarters in Cairo was ablaze in the outpouring of rage, bitterness and utter frustration with a regime seen as corrupt, heavy-handed and neglectful of grinding poverty that afflicts nearly half of the 80 million Egyptians. After nightfall, some of the protesters defied the curfew and were praying on the streets of Cairo. In one of many astonishing scenes Friday, thousands of anti-government protesters wielding rocks, glass and sticks chased hundreds of riot police away from the main square in downtown Cairo and several of the policemen stripped off their uniforms and badges and joined the demonstrators.(40 images)
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Egyptian anti-government activists clash with riot police in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters poured into the streets of Egypt Friday, stoning and confronting police who fired back with rubber bullets and tear gas in the most violent and chaotic scenes yet in the challenge to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. AP / Ben Curtis
Police gather in Tahrir Square as a car burns on January 28, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Egyptian army armored vehicle are seen outside the television building following protests in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Victoria Hazou
Protestors attempt to get into Tahrir Square on January 28, 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Egyptian anti-government activists chant slogans as they confront riot police during a protest on the May 15 bridge in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Khalil Hamra
Egyptian riot police disperse demonstrators in Cairo on January 28, 2011, demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. AFP/ Getty Images / Marco Longari
Egyptian plain cloth police officers arrest a demonstrator in Cairo on January 28, 2011, demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. AFP/ Getty Images / Marco Longari
Egyptian women pray behind a row of riot police ahead of demonstrations in Cairo on January 28, 2011, demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. AFP/ Getty Images / Marco Longari
Egyptian anti-government activists, some standing on a burned police car challenge riot police officers, not seen, during clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Friday Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
Egyptian protesters face anti-riot policemen in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. The Egyptian capital Cairo was the scene of violent chaos Friday, when tens of thousands of anti-government protesters stoned and confronted police, who fired back with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons. AP / Victoria Hazou
Egyptian protesters jump over anti-riot vehicles in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ahmed Ali
Egyptian anti-government activists carry a wounded man during clashes with the police in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ben Curtis
Egyptian anti-government activists protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ben Curtis
Egyptian anti-government activists demonstrate after the police, seen in their vehicles, moved back following clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, 28, 2011. AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
An Egyptian anti-government activist tries to avoid the effect of tear gas launched by riot police officers, not seen, during clashes in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
An Egyptian anti-government activist runs to throw back a tear gas canister fired by riot police officers, not seen, during clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
An Egyptian protester throws stones towards a line of riot police in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Victoria Hazou
Egyptian protesters flee as riot police charge towards them in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Victoria Hazou
Egyptian anti-government activists affected by the tear gas react during clashes with police in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ben Curtis
An Egyptian police officer, top left, gives the thumbs-up as Egyptian anti-government activists walk past riot police officers inside their van as police pulled back following riots with protesters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, 28, 2011. AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
People try to extinguish a police car on fire during clashes between Egyptian anti-government activists and the police in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, 28, 2011. AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
Egyptian anti-government activists run for a cover from the tear gas during clashes with the riot police in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ben Curtis
Egyptian anti-government activists are seen atop police trucks during clashes with police in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ben Curtis
An Egyptian demonstrator confronts riot police during demonstrations in Cairo on January 28, 2011, demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. AFP/ Getty Images / Khaled Desouki
An Egyptian police officer fire tear gas at demonstrators in Cairo on January 28, 2011, demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. AFP/ Getty Images / Khaled Desouki
Police carry an injured colleague across the Kasr Al Nile Bridge on January 28, 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Egyptian demonstrators confront riot police during demonstrations in Cairo on January 28, 2011, demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. AFP/ Getty Images / Khaled Desouki
Riot police force protestors back across the Kasr Al Nile Bridge as they attempt to get into Tahrir Square on January 28, 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Riot police fire water cannons at protestors attempting to cross the Kasr Al Nile Bridge on January 28, 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Riot police force protestors back across the Kasr Al Nile Bridge as they attempt to get into Tahrir Square on January 28, 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Protestors climb on a retreating police tear gas vehicle on the Kasr Al Nile Bridge as they attempt to get into Tahrir Square on January 28, 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Riot police face protestors on the Kasr Al Nile Bridge on January 28, 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Egyptian protesters flee as anti-riot police fire tear gas in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ahmed Ali
Egyptian anti-riot police clash with antigovernment protesters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Muhammed Abu Zaid
A Egyptian protesters shout in front of anti-riot policemen who block a bridge in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Ahmed Ali
Egyptian anti-riot policemen use water canons against protesters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Muhammed Abu Zaid
A protestor gestures to riot policeman in front of the l-Istiqama Mosque in Giza on January 28, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
Egyptian demonstrators confront riot police during a demonstration in Cairo on January 28, 2011, demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. AFP/ Getty Images / Mohammed Abed
Locals pray in the street in front of The l-Istiqama Mosque watched by riot police in Giza on January 28, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid
An Egyptian anti-government activist kisses a riot police officer following clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
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