A protester runs with a tear gas canister fired by riot police during clashes near Tahrir Square in Cairo. -Reuters Photo

CAIRO: Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi announced on Sunday he was imposing a state of emergency for 30 days in three cities along the Suez Canal that have been the scene of the worst violence that flared at the weekend, killing more than 45 people.

Mursi made the announcement in a televised address in which he said a curfew would also be introduced in Port Said, Ismailia and Suez starting Monday from 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) to 6 a.m. (0400 GMT). He also called for dialogue with top politicians.