AFP - The Egyptian government said Sunday that he would do an "iron fist" to defend the security of the country and take action against attacks on places of worship, a day after clashes between Muslims and Christians with 12 died in Cairo.
The authorities would "strike with an iron fist all those who seek to harm the security of the nation," said Justice Minister, Abdel Aziz al-Guindi, following a crisis meeting after Saturday night's violence, blaming the violence on a "cons-revolution".
The government will "implement an immediate and strong laws that criminalize attacks against places of worship and cons of freedom of belief," assured the minister, adding that anti-terror laws are used against troublemakers.
The army, custodian of the office, said she would bring the 190 people arrested in connection with the violence in military courts.
Two churches attacked in Cairo
Violent clashes between Muslims and Christians on Saturday night in the neighborhood of Imbaba.Twelve people were killed and 232 injured, according to a latest official death toll.
Major confrontations took place around a church, attacked by Muslims believed that a Christian wanting to convert to Islam was shut up.
A curfew was imposed at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) Sunday in the area until Monday 11:00 (0900 GMT), said on state television.
Another church was burned in the neighborhood, where many soldiers and riot police were deployed.
"Counter-revolution"
Mr.Guindi has blamed the violence on a "cons-revolution"-the government has repeatedly claimed to be orchestrated by loyal to the regime of President Hosni Mubarak ousted Feb. 11 by a popular revolt-spreading disorder in the country.
"The Egyptian people, the noble and great military police are standing together today to defeat the cons-revolution," he said.
Laws against attacks against national unity "provide for severe penalties and can lead to the death penalty," he added.
The army has urged "all communities in Egypt, the youth revolution and Muslim theologians and Christians to stand firm against attempts by obscurantist groups to torpedo the national unity."
Sectarian tensions rising
For months, Egypt is experiencing a rise in sectarian tensions fueled by controversy over women Copts wishing to convert to Islam, but would remain cloistered by the Church.
Several demonstrations calling Salafi (radical Islamists) have occurred in recent weeks to demand the "liberation" of Camilia Shehata and Wafa Constantine, two wives of priests they say kidnapped by the Church.
The two women each have left their husbands, seven years ago for Ms. Constantine, the last year for Ms. Shehata.Both were escorted home by police after the Copts have ensured that they had been abducted by Muslims.
The church has denied their possible conversion, but neither is publicly reappeared to give his version of events.
Seized by the Islamists, the prosecution requested April 30 to hear Camilia Shehata, but the Church refused to receive notice of a bailiff.
The Copts, or Egyptian Christians, represent 6-10% of the estimated 80 million Egyptians.They feel discriminated against and increasingly marginalized in a society overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.
They have been targeted by several attacks, particularly that of the night New Year's Eve against a Coptic church in Alexandria that left 21 dead.
