Violence

Christians and Muslims Clash in Cairo

At least 10 dead, 186 wounded.

At least 10 people were killed and 186 wounded in clashes between Coptic Christians and Salafist Muslims in Cairo last night. Two churches and several nearby homes were set on fire. The furor seems to have started when a group of Salafists gathered in front of the Coptic Saint Mena Church to protest allegations that a Christian woman was being held there against her will because she had married a Muslim man and wanted to convert to Islam. Salafist groups have made similar claims before. Rival groups threw firebombs and stones, and gunfire was heard, and it took several hours for military and security forces to bring the mob under control The military council said it would send all 190 people arrested in the incident to military court as a "deterrent to all those who think of toying with the potential of this nation.”