Egypt Pledges to Protect Copts in Face of Al-Qaida Threat

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has assured the country’s Coptic Christians that they would be protected from threats by al-Qaida.

Egypt’s official MENA news agency said Saturday that Mr. Mubarak spoke by telephone with Coptic leader Pope Shenouda and pledged to protect Copts and Egyptian Muslims from any acts of terrorism or extremism.

Last week, an al-Qaida linked group, the Islamic State of Iraq, took responsibility for a siege at a Catholic Church in Baghdad that left 58 people dead.

The group has been demanding the release of Muslim women it says are being held by the Coptic Christian church. The group has threatened more attacks on Christians, saying they are “legitimate targets.”

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood party condemned the threat, saying Muslims should protect holy places of all religions.

Egypt is home to nearly 8 million Coptic Christians.

Some information in this story was provided by AP