Qalubiya security chief: Security forces did not withdraw from el-Khosous

Qalubiya security chief Major General Mahmoud Yosri denied the security forces' withdrawal from el-Khosous, home for Copts and Muslims in Egypt's governorate of Qalubiya. He, meanwhile, affirmed that there is no forced migration of Coptic families inside the city. In statements Tuesday, Yosri said that the security forces rushed to the village of el-Khosous immediately after it was alerted about the eruption of violent acts there and erected a security cordon around its church. The security forces stand at an equal distance from all parties and deal with the incidents in a professional manner, he added. Deadly clashes, which left six people killed, erupted in Qalubiya on Saturday between groups of Muslim and Christian teenagers after the latter allegedly painted offensive drawings on the gates of an Al-Azhar institution in the place.