Egyptian army tells minister he cannot quit

Egypt’s finance minister resigned yesterday in protest the government’s handling of protests that left 26 dead, most of them Coptic Christians.

However, Hazem el-Beblawi said the country’s army rulers had rejected his resignation and he did not know how to respond.

“I did not withdraw my resignation. The higher [military] council rejected it … and I am now in a difficult situation … I am confused,” Mr Beblawi said.

“I took this decision because of the Maspero situation and security, not because of economic policy,” he said, referring to the area of Cairo where Sunday’s clashes took place.

At least 26 people were killed when troops broke up protests near Cairo’s state television building on Sunday night.

The demonstrators, mostly Coptic Christians who were later joined by Muslims, were protesting against an attack on a church in Aswan.