Cairrians wok up this morning to the sad news of the destruction of irreplaceable historic site: an 18th century guest palace in the old city.

A fire that began when residents set fire to piles of some rubbish has gutted most of the interior of one of the land marks of the Muslim architecture in Old Cairo, the Musafirkhana ( palace of travelers).

The Musafirkhana was built in 1779-88 and is the birthplace of Khedive Is Mail, the ruler of Egypt at the time of the construction of the Suez Canal.

The blaze erupted Thursday when residents set fire to piles of refuse in front of the 18th Century Ottoman palace and its wooden gate caught fire, according to South Cairo fire brigade spokesman. Flames quickly spread to the palace itself. It took firefighters five hours to put out the blaze, which devoured the rich woodwork of the palace and left only the walls standing.

Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation. Four neighbouring apartments were also destroyed. A fire brigade source blamed the Cairo Governorate's poor rubbish collection service for the tragedy.

Official for Islamic and Coptic Monuments as saying that the palace would be restored. But Cairo conservationists are sceptical as the cited the fate of the old opera house. The Opera, constructed also by the then progressive Khedive Ismail in 1866 where the first ever performance of Aida was held in front of Europe's emperors, kings and queens, was a fine example of the best of 18th century Italian architecture. It was destroyed by fire in 1972. The fire at the time thought to be set deliberately by some corrupt officials to cover up their theft of expensive costumes.