Egypt's
Coptic Pope Shenuda III on Wednesday deplored the violent clashes with
security forces in Cairo's Giza district when thousands of minority
Christians marched to demand permission from the government to build a
church.
Shenuda III was quoted by pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi as saying he wanted to "forcibly resist action of this kind."
He said he wanted to "work to restore calm and prevent further acts of violence in the city."
A group of Muslims reportedly gathered in the area of Giza where
some 3,000 Coptic Christians were reported to have protested outside the
office of the local governor.
The Muslims reportedly set several crucifixes alight and threw stones at the Copts.
Egypt's interior ministry said over 100 people were arrested over
the violence in which one protester was killed and dozens of people
were injured as police fired tear gas and the Copts threw stones and
petrol bombs.
The Copts said they had permission to build the church in Giza but officials said they did not have the proper permit.
Protests on this scale are rare from Egypt's Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the country's 85 million population.
There has been friction in the past between the majority Muslims and
Christians, who complain they do not have the same freedom to build
places of worship.
SIC: AIK/INT'L