Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Angry Coptic Christians protest, clash with police

Thousands of Coptic Christians across Egypt protested on January 4, and in many incidents clashed with the police. Angered by the deadly bombing of a church Alexandria, hundreds of Copts have been protesting -- since January 1-- in Cairo's district of Shubra, in districts of Alexandria and in other cities and towns nationwide.

Eight Muslim activists, including the socialist journalist Mostafa Mohie, were arrested -- on the night of January 3 -- while protesting in solidarity with the Copts in Shubra. These eight peaceful activists are currently imprisoned and are awaiting referral to a court -- on trumped-up charges leveled against them by police.


JC

The Associated Press
Christians demonstrate in south Egypt

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

ASSIUT, Egypt -- About 500 young Egyptian Christians have defied a call by their leaders to avoid demonstrations and descended into the main streets of this southern city protesting the New Year's Day church bombing that killed 21.

The demonstrators gathered Tuesday evening in front of the ruling party's headquarters in the city of Assuit, which has a large Christian population, shouting slogans and vowing to protect the cross with their "blood and souls."

Many Christians blame the government for not protecting them.

No injuries have been reported even though the protesters threw rocks at riot police cordoning off the area.

The demonstration follows several protests that took place during the past three days in Egypt's main cities of Cairo and Alexandria.

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