DHAKA: Egyptian police deployed at churches across the country with orders to use live ammunition to protect Coptic Christians over their Christmas holiday.

Egypt interior ministry said on Monday, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Dozens of churches and Christian properties were attacked in August, the month after the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Mursi.

Since then, although wider reprisals against Christians have been infrequent, sectarian rhetoric from Islamists against Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population, has intensified and the authorities are on alert for any attack.

Mursi’s relations with the Coptic church during his year in office were poor. Pope Tawadros had accused the freely elected Islamist of neglecting the Coptic community.

BDST: 1956 HRS, JAN 06, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor