Thursday, January 13, 2011

Egypt recalls Vatican envoy

Egypt recalled its Vatican ambassador on Tuesday for consultation in Cairo after Pope Benedict urged governments in predominantly Muslim countries to do more to protect Christian minorities.

The head of the Roman  Catholic Church condemned on Monday attacks on churches that killed dozens of people in Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria, saying they showed the need to adopt effective measures to protection religious minorities.

"Egypt asked its ambassador in the Vatican to come to Cairo for consultation after the Vatican's new statements that touch on Egyptian affairs and which Egypt considers an unacceptable interference in its internal affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a statement sent to Reuters.  

SIC: Reuters/INT'L