The head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenouda III, warned Sunday that outsiders have infiltrated the group of largely Christian protesters, making the situation more explosive.
The protesters have waged a sit-in outside the state television building in Cairo for nearly a week following deadly Christian-Muslim clashes that killed 15 and left a church burned.
There was more violence Saturday night when a mob of more than 100 people lobbed rocks and firebombs at those waging the sit-in and charged hundreds of people sleeping in the area. Vehicles were also set on fire.
The official says the mob was retaliating for an earlier scuffle that left one of them badly injured.
Hundreds of protesters have been holding a sit-in outside the state television building for nearly a week, blocking traffic.
Police and army troops fired in the air to disperse the crowd.
