Egypt's Jazeera Office Attacked

An office of Arab satellite broadcaster Al-Jazeera in the Egyptian capital was firebombed on Wednesday, a security official said, as protesters clashed near the downtown Tahrir Square.

"Unknown assailants" lobbed Molotov cocktails at the office which overlooks Tahrir, "causing a big fire which rescue services are working to put out," the official said.

Television footage showed the damage caused at the office, with burned lighting equipment hanging from charred walls. No one was injured in the fire, according to security officials.

An Interior Ministry official said 118 people have been arrested since clashes broke out on Monday during a protest to mark the first anniversary of deadly street battles that piled pressure on then ruling military to quit power.

Medics said that at least 60 people had been injured in three days of confrontations. One protester, a member of the April 6 movement, is in critical condition, the group said on Tuesday.

On Monday, clashes erupted as protesters tried to destroy a concrete barrier which security forces put up to end last year's fighting with activists.

At least 45 protesters died in the five days of street battles that began on November 19 last year to put pressure on the military, which took power after a popular uprising overthrew President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.

The military, which responded by vowing to hand over power by June 2012, transferred control to Islamist President Mohammed Morsi after his election that month.