Egyptian police liberate Tahrir Square

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CAIRO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Police removed metal barriers and barbed wire Tuesday erected by protesters last November in the streets leading to Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Sixty-five people were arrested during the operation, with police confiscating Molotov cocktails, weapons and chains from protesters, Ahram Online reported.

The concrete walls authorities erected to keep protesters from reaching the Interior Ministry building, Parliament and other vital institutions remain in place.

Protesters have been staging a sit-in in Tahrir Square since Nov. 22 when President Mohamed Morsi issued a controversial constitutional declaration that placed his decisions above the judiciary.

Calm returned to Tahrir Square 2 hours after police cleared it, al-Masry al-Youm reported.

Protesters moved their sit-in to the central island allowing cars to gradually start flowing through the square.

The Qasr al-Aini and Talaat Harb Street areas remained closed.