A fire Tuesday destroyed the seven-story building of the Interior Ministry in downtown Cairo police during demonstrations in search of better pay and working conditions. A ministry source said the fire likely was linked to the demonstrations, without elaborating. But witnesses said the protests had been peaceful and accused officials of using them to cover the burning of potentially incriminating documents.
At least five ambulances and fire trucks raced to the burning building, part of the headquarters complex of the Interior Ministry in downtown Cairo. There were no reports of casualties. "It probably is related to the protests," said an Interior Ministry source as flames and a plume of black smoke rose over the city center.
But another ministry official said later Tuesday that the fire was unrelated to the protests. "They have not done anything and we have not charged anyone," he told a television Hefzy Mohsen, deputy minister of interior for security. The police have organized strikes and similar protests since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown, and last month about six vehicles were burned outside the building complex.
Egypt's military rulers condemned the suspected arson, police fired demanding reinstatement, to imprisonment in a military prison. The army cordoned off the building on Tuesday to protect protesters from police, reported state news agency. Witnesses said the turnout was about three thousand.
Several other security buildings were burned earlier this month, and witnesses at the time said police had been burning secret documents that could incriminate security officials. 
At least five ambulances and fire trucks raced to the burning building, part of the headquarters complex of the Interior Ministry in downtown Cairo. There were no reports of casualties. "It probably is related to the protests," said an Interior Ministry source as flames and a plume of black smoke rose over the city center.
But another ministry official said later Tuesday that the fire was unrelated to the protests. "They have not done anything and we have not charged anyone," he told a television Hefzy Mohsen, deputy minister of interior for security. The police have organized strikes and similar protests since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown, and last month about six vehicles were burned outside the building complex.
Egypt's military rulers condemned the suspected arson, police fired demanding reinstatement, to imprisonment in a military prison. The army cordoned off the building on Tuesday to protect protesters from police, reported state news agency. Witnesses said the turnout was about three thousand.
Several other security buildings were burned earlier this month, and witnesses at the time said police had been burning secret documents that could incriminate security officials.
No comments:
Post a Comment