Egyptian security forces deployed tear gas to disperse hundreds of student protesters at Cairo’s al-Azhar rallying against Egypt’s military-backed government.

Egyptian security forces deployed tear gas to disperse hundreds of student protesters at Cairo's al-Azhar rallying against Egypt’s military-backed government.

The students chanted "down with military rule" before security forces moved in to break up the protest, Reuters reports.

The protest comes one week before former Islamist president Mohamad Mursi, who was ousted by the military in July, goes on trial for inciting murder.

His supporters have called on mass protests, raising the specter of more violence in the country.