Egyptian military uses force to disperse Coptic Christian protest

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Egyptian military uses force to disperse Coptic Christian protest
03-14-2011

Cairo, March 14 (DPA) Egypt's military used electric tasers and batons to disperse a protest by Coptic Christians, demanding justice after the torching of a church, media reported Monday.

The military began using force when protesters refused to leave their site in front of the state television and radio building in Cairo after a midnight curfew came into effect, independent daily newspaper Al Masry Al Youm reported on its website.

At least 15 people, both Muslim and Christian, were injured.

Thousands of people have been protesting in front of the state television and radio building for over a week, after a church was torched following sectarian clashes in the village of Sol, south of Cairo.

The protesters' demands for protection from the army grew after 13 people were killed in clashes around the Cairo neighbourhood of Manshiyet Nasr last week.

Local and international rights groups have accused the Egyptian military of using excessive force against peaceful protesters, and of torturing detainees over the past week.

Human Rights Watch reported that some protesters were tortured by the military after they were detained when the sit-in in Tahrir Square was broken up by force March 9.

Coptic Christians comprise around 10 percent of the population in predominantly Muslim Egypt.