Dozens die in fire at Egypt church

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. Police said an initial investigation blamed an electrical short-circuit.

The fire broke out while congregation was under way on Sunday morning.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's primarily Muslim population.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi spoke by phone with the Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II to offer his condolences, the president's office said.