El-Arish (Egypt), March 7 (DPA):  Thousands of protesters gathered in the city of El-Arish Monday, demanding the dissolution of Egypt's State Security Investigations Services (SSIS) and the release of political prisoners.

The demonstrators marched towards the governorate building in El-Arish, in the north of the Sinai Peninsula.

Some protesters carried photographs of political prisoners, and others chanted "bring down the state security forces".

The protesters are also demanding that files in SSIS buildings be protected, after reports that documents incriminating security officers and political figures were being destroyed in other parts of the country.

The demonstration came a day after the Egyptian military fired gunshots into the air and used electric tasers and batons to disperse a protest in Cairo at the SSIS offices in Lazoughly Square.

Calls have increased in the past week for the dissolution of the security services, widely viewed as corrupt and violent.

The SSIS is also blamed for excessive use of force against the anti-government demonstrations which led to former president Hosni Mubarak's resignation last month. At least 350 protesters were killed in the crackdowns.