Coptic Pope slams violence verdicts

The spiritual leader of the Coptic Christian church in Egypt, Pope Shenouda, has rejected court verdicts over Muslim-Christian clashes, which acquitted most of those accused.

Speaking in Cairo, Pope Shenouda said the church would appeal to a higher court.

On Monday, four Muslims were given jail terms of up to ten years by a court in southern Egypt; ninety-two other defendants were found not guilty.

Twenty Christians and one Muslim were killed in violence and looting which erupted just over a year ago after a financial dispute between a Christian and a Muslim in the town of al-Kosheh.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service