CAIRO - Egypt's Al-Azhar, the world's most prominent seat of Sunni Islam, indefinitely suspended an inter-faith dialogue with the Vatican in response to Pope Benedict XVI's repeated criticism of Islam and the condition of Copts in Egypt. "The decision to suspend dialogue with the Vatican is unanimously voted by members of the Islamic Research Council in an emergency meeting," read a statement from the council. It added that the suspension was for an indefinite period. "Pope Benedict's repeated criticism of Islam and his unjustified claim that Copts are persecuted in Egypt and the Middle East were behind the suspension move," the statement read. Egypt recalled its ambassador to the Vatican after Pope Benedict XVI demanded that certain countries, including Egypt, do more to ensure Christians can practise their faith without discrimination or violence. The papal remarks following a New Year bombing outside a chruch in Alexandria were slammed as "unacceptable", and he was charged with interfering in the country's internal affairs. Ahmed el-Tayyeb, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, also blasted the Pope's remarks. "I disagree with the pope's view," said el-Tayyeb. "I ask why did the pope not call for the protection of Muslims when they were subjected to killings in Iraq?" President Hosni Mubarak has repeatedly said that the Government will do its utmost to protect Egypt's Christians and has accused foreign groups of being behind the church attack, which has sparked a wave of angry protests by Christians in the country.
