FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 file photo, Bishop Tawadros, 60, soon to be Pope Tawadros II greets well-wishers, not shown, after being named the 118th Coptic Pope in the Wadi Natrun Monastery complex northwest of Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's Coptic Christian pope has sharply criticized the country's Islamist leadership in an interview with The Associated Press, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, saying the new constitution is discriminatory and that Christians should not be treated as a minority. Pope Tawadros II also dismisses calls by President Mohammed Morsi for a national dialogue, saying, “We will actively take part in any national dialogue that would benefit the nation, but when a dialogue ends before it starts and none of its results are implemented then we do not take part.” (AP Photo/Roger Anis, El Shorouk Newspaper, File) EGYPT OUT
Muslims attack Christians in Egypt's south
Published: 08:56:01 PM, Tue 19 March 2013 UTC
ASSIUT, Egypt (AP) — Hundreds of Muslim villagers in Egypt's south have attacked Christian-owned stores in search of a girl whose family claims was abducted.
The villagers assaulted the stores Tuesday and surrounded two churches in the city of al-Wasta in Bani Suef province in Egypt's south. Security forces guarded the churches. No casualties were reported.
The college-aged girl disappeared around one month ago. The crowd accused local Christian of kidnapping her.
Bani Suef's prosecutor, Hamdi Farouk, said there was no reason to believe Christians were involved in her disappearance.
Security chief Ibrahim Hudeib said the girl left her house with her gold and passport in hand and may have fled with a local Muslim boy.
Past clashes have been sparked by rumors of conversion, Muslim-Christian love affairs and the construction of churches.
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