---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fernando Baez <baezfer(a)hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:29:31 -0430
Subject: Institut d'Egypte library burned near Tahrir square clash
For several days there has been an attempted clampdown of the military
forces on the continuing street protests in Cairo. One of the victims
today of the violence that has erupted has been the Institute D'Egypte
and its
library off Qasr al-Aini Street in central Cairo.
The institute is considered the oldest scientific
institute in Egypt it was established
as L'Institute d’Egypte in August 1798 by Napoleon Bonaparte during
the French invasion of Egypt.
Its mission is to advance high quality research
in various fields, ranging from biology and mathematics to fine arts
and archaeology. Its library contains more than 200,000 books,
including the original volumes of the "Description de l'Égypte
(Description of Egypt), begun in 1798 by French scientists in Egypt.
Professor Mahmoud al-Shernoby, the president of the institute, told
state TV in a phone interview that the damage is a “great loss” to
Egypt and that those “who caused this disaster should be punished.”
The fire started on the lower floors of the building, but then spread
to the higher floors. It soon got out of control and by the time
firemen
reached the site, there had already occurred a lot of damage, the state TV
reported that the fire damaged the whole building and all of its
collections. According to eyewitnesses (reported by both MENA and
state TV) protesters were seen throwing a Molotov cocktail at the
institute, aiming at stone-throwing soldiers
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz4ZPHsqj6E&feature=player_embedded#t=106s>
at the Shura Council building, but the projectile missed the intended
target and instead landed in the Egyptian Scientific Institute.
Fernando Báez
===========================
see also
http://www.en.cybrarians.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article…
35:esi
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