Egyptian PM Visits Qena

Egyptian Premier Essam Sharaf is visiting Qena as part of his investigations into the widespread protests sparked by the appointment of Emad Mikhail, a Copt, as governor of the area. More here.

Egyptian Presidential Candidate Visits Qena, Nag Hammadi

Egyptian presidential candidate Amr Moussa is visiting the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Upper Egypt's Nag Hammadi as well as the city of Qena in an effort to reach out to both the region's Copts and its Arab Muslims. More here.

New Coptic Orthodox Governor Suspended

After 11 days of protests by Muslims angry over the appointment of an Orthodox Christian, Emad Mikhail, as governor of the Qena Governorate the Egyptian government has suspended the new governor for 3 months while it looks into the reasons for the protests. More here.

Egyptian Interior Ministry to Establish Joint Muslim/Orthodox Committee

The Egyptian Interior Ministry has agreed to establish a committee comprised of clerics of al-Azhar University and the Coptic Orthodox Church to deal with "ethnic problems" between Egypt's Arab Muslim majority and its large Coptic Orthodox minority. The agreement between the Ministry and Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) comes in the wake of an attack on a Copt, Ayman Anwar Metari, in the Upper Egyptian city of Qena. Although he survived the attack, Mr. Metari had an ear cut off and also had his home and car burned by his attackers. More here.