It’s almost like they’re trying to provoke more violence against Egypt’s besieged Christians.

(Al Arabiya) – A statement on Tuesday by an Egyptian presidential aide accusing Christian Copts of being the cause of Monday’s clashes near Cairo’s Abbasiya Cathedral has caused public outrage.

Issam al-Hadad, the president’s assistant on foreign affairs, published the statement on Facebook, saying that during a funeral of Christians on Monday, some angry mourners attacked passing cars.

This led some people near the cathedral to open fire and throw rocks, which escalated into an exchange of gunfire, he added.

Clashes broke out on Monday between Muslims and Christians during a funeral of four Christians killed in sectarian violence the day before in the town of al-Khsoos. Monday’s clashes killed two and injured 89, security officials said.