CAIRO: Violent clases broke out in Cairo when military police fired upon a protest set to advocate for Coptic rights and protection in front of Egypt's Maspero state TV building on Sunday evening. Coptic protesters marched from Cairo's Shubra neighborhood to the Maspero building, where they were met by military police. Police first fired shots into the air and subsequently shot into the crowds. As the shots fired, people panicked and a military vehicle ran over protesters. Some have reported that the vehicle was set on fire. A correspondent from the scene told Bikyamasr.com that at least 30 people are dead, and many are wounded. The protesters marched to Cairo's Tahrir Square, and are now returning to the Maspero building. Live shots and tear gas canisters are still being fired as the protest rages on. Egyptian state TV reported that Coptic Christians initiated the attack, angering many who believe that the state TV discourse will insight further violence. Coptic Christians demonstrated last Tuesday in front of the Maspero building, and were met by Egypt's military police. Early Wednesday morning, police fired shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd that remained. The protests were organized after Muslim citizens attacked a Coptic church in Aswan on September 30, claiming that the church did not obtain proper permits for construction. Christians are angry at Egypt's interim ruling government for failing to protect Copts during an onslaught of anti-Christian attacks in Egypt this year. BM ***Joseph Mayton and Manar Ammar contributed to this report.
