Some 10,000 Egyptian protesters converged on Cairo's Tahrir Square to mark the first anniversary of "Friday of Rage", a key day in the popular uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

On the same day last year, Mubarak's security forces battled protesters who streamed into the square, killing and wounding hundreds.

The day ended with a collapse of Mubarak's much-hated security forces. Millions of Egyptians, fearful of prison breaks and chaos, went out into the streets to protect their houses and neighbourhoods.

A year later, Islamists and liberal reformers were divided on the message.

The Muslim Brotherhood group, fresh from an overwhelming parliamentary election victory, celebrated the day.

Muslim Brotherhood supporters and others note that the military council, which took over after Mubarak stepped down, has pledged to hand over power to civilian rule after presidential elections by late June.

Liberals, suspicious that the military council does not intend to fully transfer power to civilian rule, vowed to continue their protests. Also, they demands trials for members of military council for deaths of protesters over the past months.

They accuse the military rulers of perpetuating Mubarak's authoritarian methods.

Chants of "down with military council" and calls for retribution for the killing of protesters were heard in the square.

"We can't celebrate when there's no justice for those killed," a 30-year-old Amr Sayyed said. "The Muslim Brotherhood is talking about justice, but not how or when."