Railway linking Egypt’s capital Cairo and the southern province of Aswan remained blocked on Wednesday as a protest against a newly appointed Coptic governor continued, Xinhua informs.
The railway and a highway between Cairo and Aswan were blocked for several days by thousands of protestors in Qena province who demanded the newly appointed Qena governor Emad Mikhail resign from the post.
The highway has been reopened, while the railway remained blocked.
Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces appointed 20 new governors on April 15 for provinces across Egypt to replace those who served under former president Hosni Mubarak.
Both Mikhail and his predecessor are Copts.
The protesters said Qena is not a quota for the Copts and couldn’t be governed for the second time by a Christian and repeat that failed experience again.
Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Yehia el-Gamal said Wednesday that Mikhail will keep his post and has already started his duties.
Qena witnessed unprecedented sectarian tensions under the ex- governor of Magdy Ayoub.
Qena has the largest and oldest Coptic communities and churches in the country. It is also famous for the tribal affiliations and bonds with many religious movements from the Salafism and the Muslim Brotherhood.