Dozens of Copts on Monday continued protesting in front of the Egyptian State TV building, despite calls to stop after a mob attacked them, leading to 78 people being injured.
The protesters rejected calls on Sunday by Coptic Pope Shenouda III to immediately end the protest, which was initiated to demand the prosecution of people involved in sectarian clashes in Imbaba that left 15 people dead and more than 200 injured.
Despite the Pope's official call, a Coptic website close to the Church said the Pope gave protesters what seemed like a green light to continue.
CoptsUnited.com said Father Metias Manqarios, one of the leaders of the protest, met with Shenouda on Sunday before the Pope released his statement.
Manqarios said the Pope described the demands of the protesters as "normal and righteous," and said he "would never pressure his sons on anything."
The protesters also demand the release of Copts detained during previous sit-ins, and the opening of closed churches.
Security sources, meanwhile, told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Saturday that 52 people have been referred to trial for the clashes that took place on Saturday.
Dozens were injured and 12 cars were burned in the clashes.
