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| Cairo clashes at St Mark's Coptic Cathedral after funerals | Cairo clashes at St Mark's Coptic Cathedral after funerals |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One person has been killed in clashes outside Cairo's main cathedral following the funerals of four Coptic Christians killed in religious violence on Thursday. | One person has been killed in clashes outside Cairo's main cathedral following the funerals of four Coptic Christians killed in religious violence on Thursday. |
| Mourners leaving St Mark's Cathedral clashed with local residents. | Mourners leaving St Mark's Cathedral clashed with local residents. |
| Police fired tear gas to break up the violence. More than 60 people were injured, the state news agency said. | Police fired tear gas to break up the violence. More than 60 people were injured, the state news agency said. |
| The head of Egypt's national ambulance service, Mohammed Sultan, said one person had died of birdshot wounds. | The head of Egypt's national ambulance service, Mohammed Sultan, said one person had died of birdshot wounds. |
| Mourners inside the church had earlier chanted slogans against Egypt's Islamist President, Mohammed Morsi. | Mourners inside the church had earlier chanted slogans against Egypt's Islamist President, Mohammed Morsi. |
| Witnesses told local TV stations that the violence started when a mob attacked mourners as they exited the cathedral, pelting them with rocks and petrol bombs. | Witnesses told local TV stations that the violence started when a mob attacked mourners as they exited the cathedral, pelting them with rocks and petrol bombs. |
| The Christians responded by throwing rocks back, the witnesses said, until police arrived and attempted to quell the unrest. | The Christians responded by throwing rocks back, the witnesses said, until police arrived and attempted to quell the unrest. |
| Appeals for calm | Appeals for calm |
| Egypt's state news agency said the streets around the cathedral had seen "on-and-off" clashes between Christians and "unidentified persons". | |
| It said a fire had started in a building adjacent to the cathedral, but the blaze had since been extinguished. | |
| It also said President Morsi had denounced the violence in a phone call to the head of the Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Christian church. | |
| "Any attack against the cathedral is like an attack against me personally," he was reported as saying. | |
| Pope Tawadros, who only took office in November, appealed for calm. | |
| The political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), posted a statement on its Facebook page stressing its "utter rejection and condemnation of violence". | The political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), posted a statement on its Facebook page stressing its "utter rejection and condemnation of violence". |
| It urged both sides "not to respond to systematic provocations" or "ploys that target the homeland", but did not say who might be responsible for inciting the violence. | It urged both sides "not to respond to systematic provocations" or "ploys that target the homeland", but did not say who might be responsible for inciting the violence. |
| Egypt's minority of Coptic Christians, who make up about 10% of the population, have accused the government of failing to protect them, following the fall of Hosni Mubarak in 2011. | Egypt's minority of Coptic Christians, who make up about 10% of the population, have accused the government of failing to protect them, following the fall of Hosni Mubarak in 2011. |
| Clashes between Muslims and Coptic Christians have been seen numerous times since then, but this weekend's violence was the worst seen in several months. | Clashes between Muslims and Coptic Christians have been seen numerous times since then, but this weekend's violence was the worst seen in several months. |
| Gun battle | |
| Police said five deaths - four Copts and one Muslim - occurred on Saturday in Khosous, about 10 miles (15km) north of Cairo, after inflammatory symbols were drawn on an Islamic institute, provoking an argument. | Police said five deaths - four Copts and one Muslim - occurred on Saturday in Khosous, about 10 miles (15km) north of Cairo, after inflammatory symbols were drawn on an Islamic institute, provoking an argument. |
| The dispute escalated into a gun battle between Christian and Muslim residents, while Christian-owned shops were also attacked. | The dispute escalated into a gun battle between Christian and Muslim residents, while Christian-owned shops were also attacked. |
| Violence there flared again on Sunday, with police reporting more sectarian fighting on the streets and clashes between police and youths. | Violence there flared again on Sunday, with police reporting more sectarian fighting on the streets and clashes between police and youths. |
| Meanwhile, Egypt's top judicial body has urged the chief prosecutor appointed by Mr Morsi to step down. | Meanwhile, Egypt's top judicial body has urged the chief prosecutor appointed by Mr Morsi to step down. |
| Talaat Abdullah, who was named to the post by President Morsi in December, has provoked anger by demanding the arrest of several high-profile political activists. | Talaat Abdullah, who was named to the post by President Morsi in December, has provoked anger by demanding the arrest of several high-profile political activists. |
| In a statement on Sunday, Egypt's Supreme Judiciary Council urged Mr Abdullah to return to his previous job as a judge. | In a statement on Sunday, Egypt's Supreme Judiciary Council urged Mr Abdullah to return to his previous job as a judge. |
| Last week a court annulled the presidential decree that appointed him, but Mr Abdullah continued to carry out his duties, including issuing arrest warrants for activists accused of insulting President Morsi and Islam. | Last week a court annulled the presidential decree that appointed him, but Mr Abdullah continued to carry out his duties, including issuing arrest warrants for activists accused of insulting President Morsi and Islam. |
| Discontent with the government has also spread to the economy. Unemployment is continuing to rise and industrial action has become commonplace. | Discontent with the government has also spread to the economy. Unemployment is continuing to rise and industrial action has become commonplace. |
| On Sunday Egypt's railways were brought to a standstill after train drivers went on strike, demanding salary rises and the payment of other benefits. | On Sunday Egypt's railways were brought to a standstill after train drivers went on strike, demanding salary rises and the payment of other benefits. |