Egypt acquits two over 2010 shooting of Christians
Court confirms one death sentence, acquits two people
* Egypt had more communal strife than usual in 2010
CAIRO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - An Egyptian court acquitted two men charged with murder and possessing weapons in the case of the killing of six Christians and a Muslim police officer in a shooting in January 2010, the state news agency reported.
The emergency state security court also confirmed the death sentence on Mohamed Ahmed Hussein, 39, who was charged in January with the "premeditated murder" of the Christians and the police officer and with "intimidating citizens" in Nagaa Hamady in southern Egypt after mass on the eve of Coptic Christmas.
Kurashi Abu Haggag and Hindawi Muhammed Sayyid, who were charged with aiding in the murder and with possession of weapons, were acquitted on Sunday, the state MENA news agency said.
Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million people.
Both Muslim and Christian leaders tend to emphasise sectarian harmony but communal tensions sometimes boil up into violence, often sparked by
* Egypt had more communal strife than usual in 2010
CAIRO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - An Egyptian court acquitted two men charged with murder and possessing weapons in the case of the killing of six Christians and a Muslim police officer in a shooting in January 2010, the state news agency reported.
The emergency state security court also confirmed the death sentence on Mohamed Ahmed Hussein, 39, who was charged in January with the "premeditated murder" of the Christians and the police officer and with "intimidating citizens" in Nagaa Hamady in southern Egypt after mass on the eve of Coptic Christmas.
Kurashi Abu Haggag and Hindawi Muhammed Sayyid, who were charged with aiding in the murder and with possession of weapons, were acquitted on Sunday, the state MENA news agency said.
Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million people.
Both Muslim and Christian leaders tend to emphasise sectarian harmony but communal tensions sometimes boil up into violence, often sparked by