Sectarian violence erupts in Egypt

Muslims try to torch church in village north of Cairo

CAIRO (AP) — Security officials say new sectarian violence has erupted in a village near Cairo following the death of a Muslim man after earlier clashes there.

The officials say police used tear gas early on Wednesday against angry Muslims who were trying to torch the local church. The rioters set ablaze three police trucks and damaged several Christian homes.

Sixteen people, including 10 policemen, were injured. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Sectarian violence first erupted in Dahshour on Friday, when Christian and Muslim villagers hurled firebombs at each other in a fight that started when a Christian laundry worker burnt a Muslim’s shirt.

About 10 percent of Egypt’s mainly Muslim 82 million people are Christian.