Muslims attack Christians in Egypt's south

Hundreds of Muslim villagers in Egypt's south have attacked Christian-owned stores in search of a girl whose family claims, was abducted.

The villagers assaulted the stores yesterday and surrounded two churches in the city of al-Wasta in Bani Suef province in Egypt's south. Security forces guarded the churches. No casualties were reported.

The college-aged girl disappeared around one month ago. The crowd accused local Christian of kidnapping her.

Bani Suef's prosecutor, Hamdi Farouk, said there was no reason to believe Christians were involved in her disappearance.

Security chief Ibrahim Hudeib said the girl left her house with her gold and passport in hand and may have fled with a local Muslim boy.

Past clashes have been sparked by rumours of conversion, Muslim-Christian love affairs and the construction of churches.