Posted on 04/16/2006 11:09:17 AM PDT by HEMICRASHBOX
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (AP) - Police fired live ammunition into the air and lobbed tear gas into rioting crowds of Christians and Muslims Sunday in a third day of sectarian violence in Egypt's second-largest city. One Muslim reportedly died of wounds suffered a day earlier and dozens more were wounded and arrested.
Police fought back against Coptic Christians who were encircled by a security cordon around the Saints Church in downtown Alexandria after the mob began hurling stones and bottles from inside the police line and fellow demonstrators tossed Molotov cocktails from the balconies of nearby buildings.
Police could be seen repeatedly beating a boy of about 12, who was among the crowd of Coptic young people who fled into the church, slamming the doors behind them, or dashed down narrow streets surrounding the church. Most of the protesters were between ages 12 and 25.
Later a huge mob of what appeared to be Muslim protesters charged the police cordon from the other side.
Mustafa Mohammed Mustafa, a Muslim Brotherhood parliamentarian, said a 24-year-old Muslim died early Sunday of wounds from a beating by Christians during rioting Saturday.
The Christian protesters behind the police cordon repeatedly surged against it from the front of the church and by late afternoon were hurling rocks and bottles at security troops as others tossed firebombs from surrounding apartment balconies.
Sirens blared as ambulances raced toward the scene. Armoured police vehicles were surrounding the church as tear gas fumes sent protesters not inside the church fleeing down narrow streets in the neighbourhood.
Earlier Sunday, police, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to talk to reporters, said 43 people had been wounded in clashes near the church and 50 others were arrested, as religious leaders and politicians sought to ease sectarian tensions in the aftermath of a series of weekend attacks on Coptic churches.
About 2,000 riot police had cordoned the front of the Saints Church, but were unable to prevent the late-afternoon melee by some 200 young men who had been milling around the church grounds after services ended. They carried wooden crosses, clubs and machetes.
At least 22 people were wounded in clashes in the Mediterranean city on Saturday and 15 people were arrested in the fighting that police said was instigated by "fanatics."
Security forces also used tear gas to put down the Saturday violence, which erupted among several hundred Coptic Christians and Muslims at the end of the funeral procession for Nushi Atta Girgis, 78, who was slain Friday outside the Saints Church in the Sidi Bishr district.
Officials said more security forces had been sent to the city to maintain calm.
The violence apparently was prompted by knife attacks that wounded as many as 16 people at three churches in Alexandria Friday. Although it was Good Friday for many of the world's Christians, the Copts and other Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter next week.
Police said Alexandria governor Mohammad Abdel Salam Mahgoub and local politicians were trying calm the situation along with members of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood.
Coptic Christians are 10 per cent of Egypt's 73 million population and generally live in peace with the Muslim majority, though occasional sectarian clashes have occurred.
I misread your Copt for cops and immediately thought Alexandria, Virgina.
Christians, Jews (and other religions) all need to fight back against the "religion of piece."
Before the Carter enabled "Clash of Civilizations" is over, Jimmy will rank with Mao, Stalin and Hitler in the bloody hands department.
I wonder what perposterous reason the muslims have for rioting this time. I hope Egypt doesn't go fundamentalist and ban CHristianity altogether. I could see riots like this heading in that direction. After all, islam is the religion of peace and cannot be the root source for this violence.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.