Dozens of unknown masked assailants have attacked police guarding the Egyptian Museum using rocks and Molotov cocktails, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

The attackers reportedly moved on towards Youssef El-Gendy Street, which is near the interior ministry in downtown Cairo, after the incident on Friday.

Egyptian police have been the target of increased hostility since the January 25 Revolution which was partly triggered by anger at widespread police brutality.

Police have been relatively absent from the streets since the revolution, leaving a security vacuum.