Coptic Christians in Egypt...

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Recent and archive images relating to the Coptic Christian community in Egypt, who make up 10 percent of its 85 million people and have coexisted with the majority Sunni Muslims for centuries. Violence erupts periodically, especially in the impoverished south, but the attacks on churches and Christian properties in the last week are the worst in years.

Across the country, mobs have killed several Christians and sacked scores of shops, homes, schools and monasteries.

The immediate trigger was a bloody crackdown in Cairo last Wednesday when police dispersed two Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins set up to demand the reinstatement of President Mohamed Mursi, deposed by the army on July 3 after mass protests against him.

Using snipers and armoured vehicles, police killed hundreds of protesters, prompting some hardline Brotherhood supporters to frame the bloodshed as part of a war against Islam abetted by Egypt's Christians.