PA
19 dead as Cairo sit-in sparks riot
Fierce clashes have erupted between Christians protesting against a recent attack on a church and the Egyptian military, leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 150 injured, Health Ministry officials said.
In rioting outside the state television building along the Nile in Cairo, witnesses said some of the protesters may have snatched weapons from the soldiers and turned them on the military. The protesters also pelted the soldiers with rocks and bottles.
The clashes spread to nearby Tahrir Square and the area around it, drawing in thousands of people. They battled each other with rocks and firebombs, some tearing up paving for ammunition and others collecting stones in boxes. At one point, a group of youths with at least one riot policeman among them dragged a protester by his legs for a long distance.
The Christian protesters said their demonstration began as a peaceful attempt to sit in at the television building. But they said they came under attack from thugs in plain clothes.
“The protest was peaceful. We wanted to hold a sit-in, as usual,” said Essam Khalili, a protester wearing a white shirt with a cross drawn on it. “Thugs attacked us and a military vehicle jumped over a sidewalk and ran over at least 10 people. I saw them.”
Wael Roufail, another protester, said: “I saw the vehicle running over the protesters. Then they opened fired at us.”
Mr Khalili said protesters set fire to army vehicles when they saw them hitting the protesters. Television footage of the riots showed some of the Coptic protesters attacking a soldier, while a priest tried to protect him. One soldier collapsed in tears as ambulances rushed to the scene to take away the injured.
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Mr Martin Cassar
Oct 10th 2011, 20:43
You say Muslim-Copts clashes, and I say policy makers at the white house should focus on how to stop home growing financial troubles and stop the spreading anger at Wall Street and keep their hands and their Zionist’s agenda off Egypt. The Egyptians should understand who their common enemy is.
stephen koludrovic
Oct 10th 2011, 09:29
Unfortunatlty Christians, Jews, Buddists,Hindus and most other religions can live in peace together, however Muslim communites cannot live peacefully with any other religion apart from themselves, if they can even manage that.
Lets all be honest, it is a violent religion.
Mohamed Shahin
Oct 10th 2011, 16:43
@ stephen koludrovic
talkng bla bla is the easiest thing in world
for example if something goes wrong in malta like a egyptian muslium has been killed by 3 maltese ppl i can easily say maltese ppl are racial and hate arabian ppl ?
this event not covered here as well , im egyptian and i know what is their
if you are right that it is a violent religion , how still their is still christians in egypt after 1400 years (age of islam) ???
i have friends , neighbors from christians living in peace and love
if you followed the egypian revolution in 25 january 2011 you will found the huge prove , muslims and christians was protecting each other while praying in Tahrir square .
Bill Khan
Oct 10th 2011, 18:48
@Stephen Koludrovic
What is going on Egypt right now is moere complex than just the christian muslim issue. The elections are due to be held in Egypt in few week s time. Now whether it is the junat trying to create problems to jutsify postponing the electiions perhaps. Regarding Islam being a violent religion you are right it does not allow the slap on the other cheek without a reason. Could it be that after the violent crucifixion of Jesus, (peace be upon him) God in his wisdom needed to creat a religion which will no longer make the mistake of turning the other cheek.
Contrary to your belief by the way great masses of christians and muslims continue to live side by side quite happliy in most part of the world. propblems are usually not over religion but over land, property grab on all sides and in name of all religions. Simply Called the religion of 'Greed want and desire'.
Ms Emma Xerri
Oct 10th 2011, 19:35
@Mohamed
I have friends, Coptic Egyptians for the last 30 years and I have heard enough stories about the second class status and the beating and killings and Church burning that go on from time to time from their fellow countrymen of the Islamist faith.
Too bad it was not something happening to Muslims or the "Palestinians" or we'll have the UN, the EU, the Pope and all other apologists for your cult calling 'foul' and 'crimes against humanity' and asking for humanitarian aid and protection. You know, the best thing that ever happened to Islam is that oil was found in the sands of the countries that adhere to it, so now the world has to suffer double the pollution.
And yes, it is a historic fact, Islam was spread by the sword and its founder was a warlord - Stephen is right, Islam is predicated on violence, for if it is not against Jews, it is againsts Christians or Buddhists or even Sunnis against Shias. Islam is as Islam does, nothing more and nothing less.