Scores of Egyptian Coptic Christians staged demonstrations on Tuesday outside the Church of the Virgin Marry in Omraneya, Giza, to protest a decision by the local council to halt construction of additions currently being made to the church.
After protesters blocked Cairo's ring road for one hour, security forces cordoned off the area to prevent possible clashes with local residents.
Giza Governor Sayed Abdel Aziz reportedly met with church officials, with whom he agreed that construction work on the church should proceed.
According to church spokesmen, local council officials had informed them that ongoing construction work did not conform to the blueprints for which the building permit had been issued.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
