Muslim-Christian Clashes in Egypt Kill 10, Injure 186

Two churches burned in poor Cairo neighborhood
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 8, 2011 5:23 AM CDT
Muslim-Christian Clashes in Egypt Kill 10, Injure 186
Egyptian army forces on a truck guard the entrance of a church set on fire in the Imbaba neighborhood of Cairo Sunday.   (Khalil Hamra)

More trouble for the post-Mubarak government: Nasty clashes broke out last night between Muslims and Christians in a poor Cairo neighborhood, leaving 10 people dead and 186 injured, reports the BBC. Two Christian churches were set afire in the melee. Egypt's prime minister called off a trip to the Gulf and called an emergency Cabinet meeting, notes AP.

The violence began over a rumor: Members of the conservative Salafist Muslim movement marched on a church because they heard a Christian woman who wanted to convert to Islam was being held inside against her will. It was impossible to verify the truth of that claim, but the BBC says Salafist groups have used similar rumors to incite violence elsewhere since Mubarak was forced out. (More Cairo stories.)

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