Hundreds of people gathered in central Cairo on Tuesday, amid tight security, to protest against the rumours that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal will succeed him.

“We don’t want a hereditary government” and “no to Gamal” were among the slogans chanted by the demonstrators, who gathered near Abdine Palace, the president’s official residence.

A large sign carried by the crowd read “no to prolonging (President Mubarak’s mandate), no to hereditary power.”

They had planned to march right up to the palace but were blocked by several thousand police, deployed around 500 metres (yards) in front of the building.

The police arrested five people, according to demonstrators, and at least two women participating in the protest were beaten. They also confiscated video tapes belonging to several television stations which were covering the protests, including recordings made by the Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera, journalists said.

Police also arrested seven demonstrators in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria where similar protests took place, security soures and journalists said.

The protest brought together supporters of Egypt’s Kefaya opposition movement, leftists and members of other opposition parties.

The banned Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s main opposition group, was not present.

Egypt is due to hold parliamentary elections in November, followed by a presidential election next year.