General

Christians and Muslims in deadly Cairo clash

Deadliest unrest since the fall of Mubarak

Six Christians and five Muslims were killed by gunshots in overnight clashes during a protest in a Cairo suburb on Wednesday. Christians in the town of Soul were protesting the burning of a church last week, reportedly stemming from a Christian-Muslim love affair. Ongoing religious violence since former President Hosni Mubarak stepped down has posed a serious challenge to the interim government. Opposition member George Ishaq called those participating in the violence “enemies of the revolution.” Military prosecutors are investigating the violence and have questioned 15 people on charges of carrying guns and damaging property. Coptic Christians make up 10 per cent of the Egyptian population, and have faced widespread persecution and sectarian violence.

New York Times

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