Riots 'set back Egypt's progress'

Deadly clashes between Christians, Muslims and security forces have dealt a serious setback to Egypt’s transition to civilian rule, the country’s prime minister said today.

After 24 people were killed in the worst violence since the February overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, prime minister Essam Sharaf said the unrest, which also left 272 wounded, was part of a “dirty conspiracy” and called on Egyptians to unite in the face of what he called meddling by foreign and domestic hands in their nation’s affairs.