Egyptians Mourn the Dead; Rulers Vow Inquiry

Egyptian rulers promised an inquiry into the country's latest riots while thousands of mourners attended funerals of victims today, the BBC reports. Many on the streets blamed the army for 26 deaths and more than 300 injuries in clashes that erupted last night and rekindled today between demonstrators and security forces. "Tantawi you traitor, the blood of Copts is not cheap," Christians chanted outside a hospital where the dead were stored.

Egypt's military rulers, ostensibly holding office until elections are held, vowed to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the riots and punish the guilty, al-Jazeera reports. But the ruling council also blamed "efforts by some to destroy the pillars of the state and sow chaos" and vowed to "take the necessary measures to restore the security situation." President Obama piped in, calling for restraint "so that Egyptians can move forward together to forge a strong and united Egypt." (More Egypt protests stories.)