Coptic demonstrators on Tuesday blocked a main road in downtown Cairo while protesting the burning of a church south of Cairo.
Eyewitnesses said thousands of protesters in front of the radio and television building blocked the road leading to Abdel Moneim Riyad Square, forcing passers-by and drivers to change their routes.
Protesters also parked cars in the middle of the road, while others laid on the ground to hinder traffic, according to witnesses. Some shots were fired in the air to force passers-by to change direction after clashes took place.
Although sectarian clashes between Muslims and Christians seemed to disappear following the uprising which led to the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak, sporadic incidents like the burning of a church and killing of a Coptic priest have raised fears that tensions are being reignited.
Thousands of Copts had arrived from governorates on Monday to stage the open-ended sit-in in front of the TV building.
