Coptic pope slams Morsi over ‘cathedral clashes’

CAIRO - Agence France-Presse

Egyptians rally against Brotherhood in front of the Coptic cathedral in Cairo. AP photo

Egypt’s Pope Tawadros II accused President Mohamed Morsi of “negligence” in his response to deadly clashes outside Cairo’s Coptic cathedral, the worst sectarian crisis since he took power in June.

Morsi had telephoned Tawadros after the latest violence which saw crowds pelt mourners with stones after they emerged from a funeral service for slain Coptic Christians. Images showed police fire tear gas at St. Mark’s cathedral - symbol of the Coptic community. Morsi “promised to do everything to protect the cathedral but in reality we don’t see this,” Tawadros told the private ONTV channel in a call-in. When asked why, Tawadros said he believed “it comes under the category of negligence and poor assessment of events.” Tawadros said the church had never before in its history witnessed this level of attack. “There has to be a clear stance from the state ... because matters now have crossed the limits of freedom of expression and have reached a level of chaos,” he said.