BBC News with David Austin

Egyptian officials say at least 17 people have been killed in clashes in Cairo between members of the minority Coptic Christian community and the security forces. At least 150 were injured. Thousands of Copts were demonstrating over the burning of a church in the south of Egypt. Shaimaa Khalil reports from Cairo.

It started as a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of the governor of Aswan. However, clashes escalated between Coptic Christians protesting in front of the state TV and radio building and the military. Footage from state TV showed several vehicles on fire and protesters throwing petrol bombs at security forces in the latest

sectarian flare-up

in the country. Coptic Christians, who make up 10% of Egypt's roughly 85 million people,

blamed Muslim extremists for

partially

demolishing

a church in Aswan province last week.

Forces from Libya's new interim authority, the NTC, have taken control of a key target in Sirte, the last major stronghold of pro-Gaddafi forces. The NTC says it will formally declare the liberation of Libya when Sirte falls. The BBC's Wyre Davies is there.

It's been a day of mixed emotions for anti-Gaddafi fighters trying to take control of Sirte and bring an end to this nine-month conflict. After fierce fighting, they have made significant gains, taking the huge and opulent Ouagadougou exhibition centre and the university in the southern suburbs. They also claim to have overrun a central hospital and captured several pro-Gaddafi fighters. But they have also suffered terrible losses. After Gaddafi's troops hit back with a huge mortar barrage, we saw dozens of dead and