The Egyptian police arrested on Sunday 17 gunmen on their way to the protest held by Islamists in Cairo in support of embattled President Mohamed Morsi, official news agency MENA reported.

The men were coming in a microbus from the northern coastal city of Alexandria when the security forces stopped them, searched their car and found a modified cartouche rifle, five guns, armors and bullets.

Investigations revealed that the men were heading to Rabia al- Adawiya Square in Nasr City of Cairo, where thousands of Islamist, mostly members of the Muslim Brotherhood, from which the president hails, held their sit-in for the third consecutive day to defend the legitimacy of Morsi.

Meanwhile, Morsi's opponents held on Sunday mass rallies across the country, calling for the ouster of him, while it is the day to mark the first anniversary of the rule of the fledgling president.

Opponents and proponents have prepared for their respective Sunday rallies, raising fears of clashes between the two camps. The first spark of confrontation erupted on Sunday in Mahalla, the largest city of Gharbiya governorate, but no injuries have been reported yet.

Over the past week, clashes across the country have killed at least eight people and injured some 600 nationwide.