The privately-owned Al-Hayat channel broadcast images of the fire at Shafiq’s campaign office in the Cairo district of Dokki, saying it had been caused by a group of protesters. It said there were no injuries.

Shafiq was Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister and his success in the first round of the presidential vote has angered protesters who regard him as a symbol of the deposed president’s rule. Shafiq will face the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi in the June 16-17 run-off.