Egypt detains seven after sectarian clash

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

ISNA, Egypt (AFP) — Seven Muslims were detained in southern Egypt on Sunday after setting fire to a church and shops owned by Christians in retaliation for the alleged rape of a Muslim girl, a security source said.

The seven set fire to 13 shops owned by Egyptian Christians in the southern city of Isna late on Saturday. They also threw Molotov cocktails at a local church, the source told AFP.

They told police they were acting in retaliation for the alleged rape last week of a Muslim girl by three Christians boys.

The three Christians were detained on Saturday and taken to a police station where an angry crowd of about 150 Muslims gathered, hurling stones and bottles.

"The seven were also demonstrating outside the police station, then they left the...