Violence continues in Cairo

Small clashes continued to erupt in Cairo on Monday between Coptic Christians and security forces. The violence began Sunday when a march turned into a riot, claiming 24 lives.

Demonstrators were angry at the interim government's response to the burning of a Christian church last week.

The military council, which governs the country provisionally, imposed a curfew on central Cairo after violence spread across the capital.

The military council has deployed troops to defend key government buildings, including the state-run TV station.

The violence is casting a shadow over the runup to next month's parliamentary election, the first since Hosni Mubarak's government was toppled.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 01:08 +0900 (JST)