Egyptian Interior Ministry on fire in aftermath of protest

A plume of smoke looms over downtown Cairo on Tuesday as the Egyptian Interior Ministry burned.

story/photo by CNN

written by Ivan Watson and journalist Ian Lee

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- The Egyptian Interior Ministry was on fire Tuesday in downtown Cairo following a protest earlier in the day.

Flames could be seen on the roof of the multistory building, and a dark plume of smoke loomed over the city. People could be seen fleeing the building as it burned.

The ministry was the site of a peaceful protest Tuesday morning and afternoon, with thousands of ministry employees -- many of them police officers -- making demands, mainly for higher wages.

But protesters at the building denied setting the fire, saying it originated inside.