Major fire in Egypt district named for Mubarak wife

CAIRO, Feb 19, 2011 (AFP) - A major fire erupted early Saturday in a densely populated and run-down Cairo district named in honour of ousted strongman Hosni Mubarak's wife Suzanne, Egyptian security sources told AFP.

The "Suzanne Mubarak Housing Prohect" is part of a larger slum neighbourhood called Duweiqa, and was renovated by the former first lady, a hate figure for the protesters who overthrew her husband last week.

Officials told AFP the fire broke out in slum housing late Friday or early Saturday and spread to some four and five-storey blocks housing low income families, and that 40 fire engines were at the scene fighting the blaze.

The cause of the fire and the casualty toll were not immediately clear.

Duweiqa's fire came as anti-regime protests raged in several Arab countries, and after a massive demonstration in Cairo to celebrate one week since Mubarak was forced to step aside and allow Egypt's army to take power.

In 2008, Duweiqa was the scene of a major disaster when 119 people were killed in a rockslide that crushed a section of low-income housing.

se-dc/ach