Egypt’s military blames Christians for clashes

Egypt’s military blames Christians for clashes

Associated Press

CAIRO

Egypt’s military rulers blamed Christian protesters and “enemies of the revolution” Wednesday for triggering the clashes that left 26 dead, almost all of them Christians. The accusation was sure to inflame the fury within and beyond the Christian community over the worst violence since Hosni Mubarak’s ouster.

At a lengthy news conference to present their version of the events, generals from the Supreme Council of Armed Forces showed footage of priests and a Coptic Christian activist they accused of “instigating” the violence Sunday night with calls for demonstrations and storming the state television building. He accused protesters of “savage” attacks on the military.

Many of those killed were crushed when armored military vehicles sped through crowds of protesters and ran them over. Other victims had gunshot wounds. The clashes outside the state television building were the worst between the military and protesters in the eight months since Egypt’s uprising and has put the ruling generals on the spot.

In front of more than 50 reporters, Maj. Gen. Adel Emara, a member of the ruling council and deputy defense minister, tried to clear the military of any blame in the killings. He denied troops opened fire at protesters, claiming their weapons did not even have live ammunition. He said it was not in “the dictionary of the armed forces to run over bodies ... even when battling our enemy.”

Emara said a minority of protesters were peaceful, but a more violent, armed crowd joined the demonstration and began attacking a unit of about 300 soldiers, armed only with anti-riot gear.

“I want to bring to your attention that the protesters outside Maspero [state television] had many strange things with them: swords, gas cylinders, firebombs,” he said. “This was an indication that this was not a peaceful protest.”

Coptic Christians, who represent about 10 percent of Egypt’s 85 million, say they are treated like second-class citizens and repeated attacks on them go unpunished. But many Egyptian Muslims perceive Christians with suspicion, claiming they are empowered by western support and exploit any means to press their interests.