10 killed in Egyptian religious clashes

CAIRO. March 9. KAZINFORM Egypt's Health and Population Ministry announced Wednesday that 10 people were killed and 110 injured in overnight clashes between the Muslims and the Copts in Cairo, the MENA news agency reported; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

Several hospitals in Cairo received the wounded and the dead caused by clashes last night in Cairo's districts of Muqattam, Qalaa and Sayeda Eisha, said Sherif Zamel, head of the ministry's ambulance and emergency division.

Clashes between Egyptian Muslims and Coptic Christians escalated Tuesday after Coptic protestors blocked a main road in Cairo for more than two hours.

Hundreds of salafists, or conservative Muslims, claimed for regaining two women who they believed were held in a church after they proclaimed their Islam belief, state MENA news agency reported.

Meanwhile, thousand of Coptic protestors continued a sit-in for the fourth day on Tuesday in front of the Egyptian Radio and TV building, protesting over a church that was torched in a village in Helwan Governorate, south of Cairo.

They demanded ending of the sectarian clashes against them and rebuilding the burnt Shahedain church.

They also called for providing protection for Copts and securing their houses along with paying compensation for the losses inflicted on them; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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