One Dead in Muslim-Christian Clash in Egypt

One man was killed when armed groups of Muslims and Christians clashed in central Egypt over a relationship between a Coptic Christian and a Muslim woman, state news agency MENA reported Friday.

It said the Muslim man was killed when violence erupted late Thursday in an area called Deir Muwass in Minya province.

The fighting stopped during the night but resumed after Friday prayers when a Muslim mob set ablaze two houses owned by Christians in the area, MENA said.

Six people were also wounded in Friday's violence, it said, adding that police intervened to stop the fighting.

Egypt's Christians, mostly Copts, account for six to 10 percent of the country's 85-million population.

Rights groups say Copts have come under repeated attacks, mainly in the central provinces of Minya and Assiut since the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

They have long complained of discrimination and marginalization, particularly under the presidency of Morsi who was removed from power by the army in July.