CAIRO: Egyptian governor of the northwest governorate of Marsa Matrouh Ahmed Hussein reported to state television that clashes broke out between Christians and Muslims in the area on Friday. According to the state TV report, some 24 people were injured when fires and fighting broke out between the two religious communities.

“Security was able to control fires that erupted in three homes and two cars,” Hussein told state television.

The news was published on a few blogs, but there could be no immediate confirmation of the violence as of Saturday morning.

In recent months, tensions between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority have been high after gunmen opened fire on Christian worshipers at a church in southern Egypt on January 6.

The attack left 6 Christians and one Muslim security guard dead in what Christian organizations have repeatedly said is typical of violence aimed at the minority group in the country.

Relations between the two groups is relatively calm and spouts of violence have not been routine in the North African nation, which prides itself on religious tolerance.

However, Christians leaders have continued to cry foul, arguing that their rights have been attacked by the government.

“They are kidnapping our girls, forcing people to convert, don’t let us build our churches and we don’t have equal rights,” firebrand activist lawyer Naguib Gobrial said. He believes that the government is implicit in attacks on Christians and has called on foreign governments to intervene in the country to help end sectarian fighting.

According to most statistics, Christians in Egypt account for around 10 percent of the 80 million people in the country.

BM

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