Police battle sectarian riots in Egypt

POLICE fired live ammunition into the air and lobbed tear gas into rioting crowds of Christians and Muslims yesterday in a third day of sectarian violence in Egypt's second-largest city.

One Muslim reportedly died of wounds suffered a day earlier and dozens more people were wounded and arrested.

Police fought back against Coptic Christians, who were encircled by a security cordon around the Saints Church in Alexandria after hurling stones and bottles from inside the police line. Fellow demonstrators tossed petrol bombs from the balconies of nearby buildings.