Clashes between protesters and Egypt’s security forces near Tahrir Square continued Monday despite a state of emergency declared in three hardest hit provinces.

Clashes continued Monday morning when a group of masked men fired birdshot at the security forces injuring one conscript and prompting the forces to use tear gas to disperse the protesters, Egypt Independent reported.

A pedestrian, who was passing by Tahrir, was killed in Monday’s gunfire, Al Ahram newspaper reported.

President Mohamed Morsi declared a 30-day state of emergency in a televised address late Sunday, while warning the protesters that he would not hesitate to take further action to contain violence.

Prime Minister Hisham Qandil made an unannounced visit Monday morning to the security forces stationed near Tahrir, Egypt Independent added.

Qandil told security officers to use force against those trying to attack facilities or break the law, the newspaper reported citing an unnamed security source who attended the meeting.

Violence broke out in cities such as Suez and Ismailia Friday, on the second anniversary of the Egyptian revolution which began Jan. 25, 2011. Protesters, who had grown disgruntled over the slow pace of change and with some of the steps Morsi had taken, clashed with his Islamist supporters and security forces, leaving at least seven people dead.

A court ruling Saturday, issuing death sentences for 21 people from Port Said for their roles in a football game riot last year, ignited further violence. Over the weekend, at least 38 people, including civilians and soldiers, were killed in Port Said, according to a CNN report.

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