Clash between Christians and Egyptian Military leaves at least 19 dead

Nineteen people were killed in Cairo Sunday when a protest by Coptic Christians tued into hours of bloody street clashes.

It was the worst unrest since the Egyptian revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak in February.
State TV said at least 3 soldiers were among the dead.

The Copts were demonstrating against the buing down of a church and what they say is a patte of official discrimination against Christians when they clashed with security forces.

They threw rocks and petrol bombs at each other and fought with sticks before the street battles entered Tahrir Square, Cairo's Times Square and the epicenter of the February uprising.

By then, thousands were involved and the air was heavy with tear gas, witnesses said.

Tensions between Egypt's majory Muslims and 10% Coptic Christians have worsened since the fall of Mubarak's regime.

The Christian protesters, led by several Coptic bishops, bued photos of Mustafa al-Sayed, the goveor of Aswan province where the church was destroyed, Al Jazeera reported.

Destroyed: Egyptian security forces tackle a buing vehicle during clashes with protesters in Cairo today

Before the clashes: The demonstrations began peacefully outside the state television station in central Cairo

Huge numbers: Thousands of Coptic Christians took part in the march

The church was attacked on Sept. 30 after al-Sayed said Copts built it without planning permission.

Thousands of Coptic Christians marched demanding al-Sayed step down and the church be rebuilt.

Protesters said it was a peaceful march until they came under attack by govement-paid thugs who hit them with stones.

\"Thugs attacked us and a military vehicle jumped over a sidewalk and ran over at least 10 people. I saw them,\" protester Essam Khalili, wearing a white shirt with a cross on it, told the Associated Press.

Anger: Coptic Christians throw stones at a military vehicle

Khalili said protesters set fire to army vehicles when they saw them running down protesters.

Footage of the riots showed Coptic protesters attacking a soldier while a priest tried to protect him.

Witnesses said some protesters snatched weapons from the soldiers and tued them on the military.

Cabinet spokesman Mohamed Hegazy told Reuters the cabinet would hold an emergency session Monday to discuss the riot.

In May, twelve people were killed in a sectarian clashes between Christians and Muslims.