More anger in Egypt over Christian deaths

CAIRO -- Videos of military armored vehicles plowing through Christian protesters and images of their flattened bodies are fueling rage against the army generals, even beyond Egypt's Christian community. Activists accused the military of fomenting sectarian hatred as a way to halt criticism.

Anger was also turning on state television, blamed for inciting attacks on Coptic Christians as the military crushed a Christian protest late Sunday, leaving 26 dead in the worst violence since the February fall of Hosni Mubarak.

The bloodshed was seen by many as a turning point in Egypt's already chaotic transition: the deadliest use of force against protesters by the military, which has touted itself as the "protector of the revolution." Criticism has been mounting that the military, which took power after Mubarak's ouster, has adopted the same tactics as the former regime.

The repercussions began to hit the interim civilian government. Finance Minister Hazem El-Beblawi handed in his resignation over the handling of the protest. El-Beblawi, who is also deputy prime minister, effectively told Prime Minister Essam Sharaf "he can't work like this," said an aide who requested anonymity. -- AP