Egypt lost priceless historical documents and maps dating back more than 200 years ago when a library housing the rare collections was burned during violent clashes between protesters and police in central Cairo on Saturday.

A Molotov cocktail thrown by protesters set ablaze the Institute of Egypt, which houses a library containing 200,000 scientific books, along Qasr al-Aini Street.

Destroyed in the fire were the original manuscript of the "description of Egypt" and "irreplaceable maps and historical manuscripts preserved by many generations since the building of the Scientific Center in August 1798 during the French Campaign," Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri said in a statement, according to CNN.

Protesters claimed that men in soldier uniforms were on the rooftop of the building throwing cement blocks and rocks and firing water hoses at protesters on the street below. The protesters retaliated by throwing rocks and firebombs. An explosion inside the building followed and fire broke out.

CNN quoted a student, Ahmed Ali, as blaming the military for the fire because they used the building to attack protesters.

Ten people were killed during the violence on Saturday as police try to violently disperse protesters trying to assemble at the Tahrir Square. Hundreds were also injured in the clashes that started Friday when an activist was beaten up by police.

Firefighters try to put out the fire at the Institute of Egypt in central Cairo.