Military tanks descended on major cities in Egypt on Friday as riots and protests continued.

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The military moved onto the streets of Cairo to regain control of the city and subdue the protests and enforce the curfew, Al Jazeera reports. However, MSNBC reported, the military has not opened fire on the protesters and has not tried to stop demonstrations.

Demonstrators calling for the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak set fire to police cars, clashed with security forces, took over police buildings and set fire to major government headquarters.

The protests began Jan. 25 when a coalition of minor parties and activist groups called for a “day of rage,” in a demonstration against Egypt’s official Police Day. Similar earlier protests in Tunisia influenced the actions of the Egyptian demonstrators. 

"To general surprise, the nationwide protest turned out to be the largest act of civil disobedience in the 30 years of President Hosni Mubarak’s rule, with simultaneous marches erupting in more than a dozen towns across the country,” the Economist reported.

“Flames rose up a from burning tires and police cars in Cairo, and ruling party's headquarters was ablaze in the outpouring of rage, bitterness and utter frustration with a regime seen as corrupt neglectful of grinding poverty that afflicts nearly half of the 80 million Egyptians,” the Telegraph reports.

Protesters have been surrounding the tanks and climbing on top of them, Al Jazeera reports. Protesters chanted “Down with the regime! Down with the regime!”

Fires have engulfed many major government buildings, including the headquarters of the National Democratic Party in Cairo. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities has also been set on fire.

At least six people have died in the protests.

Follow Al Jazeera’s live coverage here.

Click here for photos of the civilians' clashes with authorities.