CAIRO, Egypt - Thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians clashed with police on Wednesday and nearly 50 people were injured on a fourth day of protests over a report about a Coptic monk's alleged sexual misconduct, security sources said.
In the latest of a rare series of demonstrations, angry Coptic youths hurled stones at police outside Cairo's cathedral after the editor of the newspaper that published the report about the monk was charged by prosecutors with inciting sedition, but released on bail.
Pope Shenouda, spiritual head of Egypt's Coptic Church, appealed to about 3,000 Copts gathered at the cathedral to refrain from violence. It was his first public appearance since the start of the demonstrations on Sunday.
The protests erupted this week after the weekly al-Nabaa al-Watany published a graphic article alleging that the monk had sexual affairs with women and then blackmailed them.
Angry Copts, whose tensions with their majority Muslim compatriots have led to bloody clashes in the past, said the report had insulted their faith.
Security sources said nearly 50 people, mostly policemen and some Copts, sustained minor injuries in Wednesday's clash, which worsened on news of the editor's release on bail.
Young Copts had gathered inside the Mary Morcos cathedral courtyard to chant protests before throwing stones at police, who tried to keep the protesters inside the church walls.
State prosecutors charged newspaper editor Mamdouh Mahran on Wednesday on counts including disturbing the peace, publishing items about a religious group that could lead to public contempt and religious sedition, and printing indecent images.
An official at the prosecutor's office said Mahran would stand trial on Sunday before an emergency state security court.
MONK EXCOMMUNICATED
Mahran is editor-in-chief of the weekly al-Nabaa al-Watany and its sister publication, the daily Akher Khabar, which made the allegations against the Coptic monk in southern Egypt. The article appeared with a photograph of a naked couple in bed.
If found guilty, Mahran could face up to five years in jail without the right of appeal, court sources said.
Mahran has denied any wrongdoing, saying his newspapers were merely keeping the public informed. The court freed Mahran on bail of 10,000 pounds ($2,570).
In an apparent bid to quell outrage among Egypt's Christian minority, Egypt has temporarily shut down the two publications, which have not reached news stands since Sunday, security sources said.
Protests -- especially religious ones -- are rare in Egypt, and are usually confined to university campuses.
About 10 percent of Egypt's 66.3 million people are Coptic Christians.
Pope Shenouda has told Egyptian television that the monk in question had been excommunicated five years ago.
17:55 06-20-01
Copyright 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.