Clashes broke out between Coptic Christians and Muslims in central Cairo yesterday after the funeral of four Copts killed in sectarian violence outside the Egyptian capital on Friday night.
State news agency Mena said 17 people had been injured in fighting after a funeral ceremony at the city’s Coptic Orthodox cathedral. Public television showed riot police firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In some of the worst sectarian violence for months on Friday, four Christians and one Muslim were killed in El Khusus, north of Cairo, when both communities started shooting at each other.
After the funeral yesterday, young Christians started hurling rocks at police, a witness said. They smashed six private cars, prompting an angry reaction from local Muslims. – (Reuters)
