Al-Azhar University suspends dialogue with Vatican

One of the most authoritative Sunni Egyptian universities, al-Azhar,
has suspended inter-religious dialogue with the Vatican because of
remarks by Pope Benedict XVI on a recent terrorist attack at a church
in Alexandria, RIA Novosti reports, referring to the Associated Press.

The powerful blast in a Coptic church of All Saints took place on New
Year’s Eve in Egypt's second-largest city, Alexandria. As a result of
the explosion, 21 people died and about 100 were injured. At a meeting
with diplomats last week the Pope urged governments in the Middle East
to take effective measures to protect religious minorities, despite
"challenges and threats."

Egypt considers such appeals as "unacceptable interferences in its
internal affairs." Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit sent a message
to his counterpart in the Vatican, stating that Cairo does not accept
attempts to promote the idea of "protection" of Christians in the
Middle East in connection with the attack in Alexandria, and rejecting
the Pope's remarks on relations between Christians and Muslims in
Egypt.