Two Christians killed in southern Egypt vendetta

Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:20pm EDT

CAIRO, April 19 (Reuters) - Muslim villagers shot dead two Christian men in southern Egypt in an apparent revenge killing, a security source said on Sunday.

The Christian men had recently been released from prison for killing a Muslim man in a sectarian clash, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Relatives of the Muslim man had waited until the Christians had served three-year sentences for the killing before attacking them near the Nile River town of Qena on Saturday after an Easter church service.

Police were searching for four gunmen, the official said.

A third Christian man was seriously injured and was taken to hospital. Coptic Christians in Egypt celebrate Easter a week after the Catholic and Protestant churches this year.

Vendettas are common among clans in southern Egypt which is relatively undeveloped compared with the capital Cairo.

Christians account for about 10 percent of Egypt's majority-Muslim population of roughly 80 million.

Sectarian violence is rare, but religious disputes over issues including land or women occasionally erupt. (Writing by Will Rasmussen; editing by Robert Woodward)



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