Death toll rises to 9 in Egypt sectarian clashes

CAIRO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in Egypt's recent sectarian clashes rose to nine on Thursday after another person died of his wounds from fights between Muslims and Copts, a health ministry spokesman told Xinhua.

A 21-year-old Muslim died of severe burns from a petrol bomb thrown at him on Saturday, Yahya Moussa said.

The sectarian clashes started early Saturday after some Coptic children allegedly drew some crosses on a wall of an Islamic institute in Khosoos of Qalyubiya north of Cairo, killing four Copts and a Muslim.

On Sunday, clashes erupted again in Cairo during the funeral at the capital's main church for the Copts, leaving another two killed and almost a hundred injured.

Also, brawls restarted in Khosoos after the Copts returned home from the funeral, leaving one killed.

The recent clashes between Muslims and Copts in Egypt raised fears of renewed sectarian strife that would threaten the national unity much needed for the country's democratic and economic transition.

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