At least one person has died in clashes between Coptic Christians² and Muslims in Cairo, Egyptian officials say.

埃及官员称，开罗的科普特基督徒与穆斯林发生冲突，至少一人死亡。

The clashes began after the Copts blocked a highway, angering Muslims, witnesses say
Reports say the victim was a Coptic Christian¹. Fifteen people were injured.

The violence began during a protest by Copts against last week's burning of a church. Witnesses say the army fired into the air to disperse³（分散，传播） the crowds.

The clashes come two months after a suicide bomber⁴ killed 23 people at a Coptic church in Alexandria.

In January, an Egyptian man was sentenced to death for shooting dead six Copts and a Muslim policeman in Naga Hamady, southern Egypt.

'Harassment⁵'

Tuesday's violence erupted when Coptic protesters blocked a highway in the Egyptian capital, protesting against the burning of the church in the province of Helwan.

The rally angered Muslims who wanted to pass through.

Witnesses say people from both sides then began throwing stones until the army intervened（干涉，调停） .

The person who died in the clashes was a Coptic Christian, a hospital official in Cairo was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

Copts - who make up about 10% of Egypt's population - have often complained of harassment（骚扰，烦恼） and discrimination, and argue that attacks on them go unpunished or result in light sentences.

The government in the predominantly（主要地） Muslim country denies discriminating⁶ against Copts.