CAIRO - Egypt's ruling military council warned against attempts to drive a wedge between the people and the Army, and also between the country's Muslims and Christian Copts, following the deadly clashes on Sunday night that left 25 dead and more 300 injured. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) reiterated its confidence in the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, giving it all full support in its mission in the transitional period, Minister of Information Osama Heikal told reporters after a joint ministerial meeting with SCAF. "SCAF and the Government are seriously working to transform Egypt to civilian rule on a sound democratic basis, respecting all faiths and human rights," Heikal said. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, at Saint Mark's Cathedral in el-Abbasiya to express his condolences. Sharaf and the Pontiff discussed means to sort out the core problems that may lead to sectarian tensions, a source said. "They both agreed on the necessity to safeguard national unity as one of the country's pillars, and on the need for stability and peace in this critical transitional period," the source added. Sharaf has asked Pope Shenouda and Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayyeb to nominate one representative each to be on a committee entitled to enact a new bill on building places of worship, which is expected to see the light of day within two weeks. Meanwhile, Mohamed el-Morsy, the head of the Military Justice Authority, said all investigations made by the Public Prosecutor have been referred to the military prosecution, which is handling the case now. El-Morsy called on anyone with any information or evidence that may be used in the Maspero investigations to "immediately" file reports to the military prosecution. The protesters in Cairo clashed with anti-riot police and soldiers guarding the State Television building, after thousands took part in a protest march from the Shubra district. Tensions have mounted between the military and groups which spearheaded the revolt after the ousting of president Hosni Mubarak in February. Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church blamed ‘infiltrators' among the demonstrators for having triggered the battle in streets on the Nile waterfront on Sunday night. Users of social networking websites such as Twitter said the initial clashes outside the State Television building on the Nile Corniche were instigated by thugs at the scene, while State TV has been accused of fanning anti-Coptic sentiment.
