Hundreds of protesters marched from Egypt’s state mosque toward Cairo’s Tahrir Square to denounce a bloody attack on Coptic Christian protesters, only to be stoned by a crowd of onlookers outside Al-Azhar mosque. A crowd of onlookers threw rocks at the demonstrators outside Al-Azhar mosque. Undeterred, the group marched on toward a central Cairo church before heading to Tahrir Square. Twenty-six people were killed on October 9 in clashes between Coptic Christians, the military and others who joined the mayhem. Most of the dead were Copts, who had been protesting an attack on a church.
Al-Azhar’s imam urged unity and support for Egypt’s Army in his Friday sermon. Participants said the imam’s remarks could heighten tensions because he urged Muslims to protect the armed forces against attacks by protesters.