Thousands of Egyptians flooded back into Tahrir Square on Monday, only hours after military police and soldiers had cleared the last few dozen pro-democracy activists from the area.
The army had appeared to be in full control of the central Cairo square after they issued an ultimatum to demonstrators to evacuate or face arrest. Tahrir Square has been at the heart of the protests that began on January 25 and within weeks toppled President Hosni Mubarak,
But hundreds of police in uniform and plainclothes marched through the square to show solidarity with the demonstrators shortly after the military announced that the area had been evacuated.
The police protesters and the crowds of onlookers around them disrupted traffic which had begun flowing at the weekend.
Waving Egyptian flags, the police demonstrators shouted "We and the people are one", witnesses said. Policemen said they wanted to "honor the martyrs of the revolution".
"We are with the people. We ask the people of Egypt not to ostracize us. We are not enemies," Lieutenant Mohammed Mestekawy told Reuters.
"We are in this together and have been mistreated by the same system.
Many police officers have died in the revolt along with others," he said.
The army ordered the remaining protesters, who were cordoned off by troops and military police in front of a stage erected during the anti-Mubarak demonstrations, to leave or face arrest.
The widely loathed police were withdrawn from the streets on Jan. 28 after failing to crush protesters with batons, teargas, rubber bullets and live fire.
The army stood by during those confrontations, without helping the protesters or the police.