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Egyptian police liberate Tahrir Square

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.

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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.

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