Army, protesters exchange blame over Egypt book burning

Egypt's military rulers and protesters exchanged accusations over the Monday burning of an 18th century research center, with dozens of prestigious and historic books destroyed.

Institute d'Egypte, established by Napoleon during France's invasion of Egypt in the 18th century, caught fire during a bloody army crackdown on protesters in Cairo.

Archive officials, academics, and volunteering protesters tried to salvage valuable books and documents from the burning building, hauling smoldering books onto a truck waiting outside a basement window.

The two-story building is in danger of collapsing after the roof caved in.

Major General Adel Emara, a member of the council that took power after Mubarak's ouster, blamed the protesters for the fire and said that they prevented fire engines from reaching the site to put out the blaze.

He also claimed that protesters pelted the vehicles with rocks and firebombs when they tried to reach the site.

In a press conference following the violence, newly appointed Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri accused protesters of setting the research center alight and said what is happening in the streets is not a revolution, but a "counter-revolution."

Protesters and witnesses, however, say the building caught fire because soldiers used the roof of the building to hurl firebombs and rocks on protesters below.

Activist group, Askar Kaziboun (Lying Military) prepared a video showing footage contradicting Ganzouri's claims.

The video below shows protesters risking their lives, trying to extinguish the fire, and attempting to salvage burning documents and books. A caption below the footage said: “[The protesters] are extinguishing the fire, not burning the place.”

It also shows police and soldiers using guns and pistols, as well as footage of protesters injured by live bullets, after Ganzouri said security officials never used live ammunition.

The video is embedded below:

(Al-Akhbar, AP)