IS has declared responsibility for the two bombings that hit St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, and Mar Guirgis Cathedral in Tanta; both attacks killed over 45 people. Reports say a bomb was planted under one of the church seats.
Gomaa reportedly added that religious interpretations should be reconsidered in order to adapt to new circumstances and that efforts with the Al-Azhar institution to regulate the issuance of fatwas should be pursued.
The bishop said that, in spite of the shock and outrage, he was convinced Christians would not leave the country en masse, as they have in Iraq and Syria.
LONDON - U.S. first lady Melania Trump has accepted an apology and damages from the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper for reporting rumors about her time as a model, the two parties in the lawsuit said Wednesday. "We will go to churches on Easter and beyond to worship the Name of Jesus".
Addressing Parliament, Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said the state of emergency was necessary to combat what he described as terrorist groups bent on undermining the country.
A spate of jihadist-linked attacks in the restive Sinai Peninsula, including the murder of a Copt in the city of El Arish, led some Coptic families to flee. Security is being stepped up, however, in light of Sunday's attacks.
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The strikes also risk thrusting the US deeper into an intractable conflict that his predecessor spent years trying to avoid. As a candidate, Trump repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and called for improving ties with Moscow.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres expressed the hope that the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice after a Security Council statement condemned the bombings as "heinous" and "cowardly".
He was subjected to extensive investigations into his relationship with IS and after his involvement with the terrorist group was proved, a decision to deport him to the Egyptian authorities was issued.
Jamie Eyre, director of programmes and partnerships at Embrace the Middle East, remarked: "There was a huge wave of optimism from Egyptian Christians when President Sisi came to power, which I think we often found hard to hear in the West". The Health Ministry said six Muslims were among the dead in Alexandria.
Egypt's Copts have endured successive attacks since Morsi's ouster in July 2013.
In the second incident which occurred several hours later, a suicide bomber detonated himself when he was stopped by security guards at St. Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria, leading to the deaths of some 17 people.
He said Sunday's attacks were not altogether unexpected given recent attacks against churches in Egypt, notably last December's blast at Ss Peter and Paul, in Cairo, the capital.
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