ALEXANDRIA, Egypt: Both Salafi and Coptic Christian clerics have denied reports of sectarian clashed in the Sidi Bishr neighborhood of Alexandria last night. Salafist preacher Yasser Burhami denied that clashes took place between Christians and Salafis in Alexandria, as was published by a foreign news agency. Burhami said it was a clash between thugs in the Derbala market in Sidi Bishr and that the incident was resolved by the Egyptian army. Burhami denied that the clashes occurred over the marriage ceremonies of the five Muslim convert. He said this was just a rumor disseminated to spark sectarian strife. Father Fawzy, a priest at All Saints Church in Sidi Bishr, also denied the report. He said the situation is very calm in the area and denied any knowledge of clashes, expressing astonishment over the news of the joint wedding ceremony. Joseph Malek, a Coptic rights activist, also said that the situation in Sidi Bishr was calm. Several news agencies claimed that clashes occurred late on Sunday evening between the Salafis and Christians and that both sides threw stones at one another. The number of those injured in these clashes is as yet unknown and apparently the clashes are continuing despite both sides denying that they ever occurred.
