Boutros-Ghali: No religious tension over Alex bombing

Former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali warned the international community Thursday that its dialogue about the Alexandria church bombing may create a sectarian rift in Egypt.

The New Year's bombing of St. Mark and St. Peter Church has strengthened ties between Muslims and Copts in Egypt as they participated in demonstrations against the attack, and there are no religious tensions, Ghali said in an interview with the German newspaper Der Spiegel (The Mirror).

Ghali, who is president of the National Council for Human Rights, said the statements of some EU countries regarding religious minorities and Copts in Egypt came within the context of globalization and the interest in human rights issues.

We cannot prevent anyone from commenting on the events, nor can we consider it as an interference in the internal affairs of Egypt, Ghali told Al-Masry Al-Youm after a meeting with the Swedish envoy yesterday.

The attack aimed to stir disorder and instability in Egypt, he said. Egypt's image has already been shaken and If the international community continues talking about the issue, it could result in a sectarian split, Ghali said.

Meanwhile, the prosecution continues investigations into the attack. Five injured victims said they saw the explosion as they were coming out of the church, but did not witness the perpetrator.

Police have yet to interrogtate ten of the victims due to their medical conditions, one of whom is a chemist who is under tight security until he can be questioned.

When DNA analysis and other reports about the explosive materials are ready, they will be submitted to the general prosecution, said judicial sources in Alexandria.

Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine Dr. al-Sebaei Ahmed al-Sebaei, refused to give any information about preliminary results, saying that reports, which are expected to be ready in two days, will be given to the Attorney General's office.