Ministry, American University Catch Fire In Fresh Cairo Clashes

The Ministry of Supply and Social Affairs, the old American University in Cairo, and the nearby Hawaiaty School in downtown Cairo caught fire Saturday as violence near Tahrir Square continued escalating.

Clashes erupted in the violence-prone Mohamed Mahmoud Street, leading to Tahrir Square, on Saturday between protesters and police. The former used Molotov cocktails that set the three buildings alight, Al-Ahram’s Arabic news portal reported.

Some assailants fired birdshot against civilians who tried to put out the fires, according to the same report.

Security reinforcements are set to pave the way for fire fighters to step in amid the hostile atmosphere.

Mohamed Mahmoud Street has seen many clashes for over a year. It was one of main venues of clashes that erupted Friday, on the second anniversary of the 2011 revolution. Clashes re-erupted in the vicinity Saturday.

Ahram