Egypt Latest: Tightened Security for Christian New Year; 5 Activists Released

1555 GMT: An Egyptian court has postponed the trial of eight leftist activists who were arrested during protests in Cairo on Sunday.

The activists belong to the Socialist Renewal Current. They were charged with rioting, disturbing the peace, and vandalizing public property.

The hearing was adjourned until 13 January.

1345 GMT: Security around churches and monasteries  across Egypt has been tightened on the eve of Christian New Year.

Colonel Alla Mahmoud of the Ministry of Interior said, "Police plan a large-scale security operation for tonight to protect Egypt's Coptic Christians and their churches."

Five activists from the 6th April Movement and the Justice and Freedom Movement, detained on Monday during demonstrations in the Shubra neighbourhood of Cairo, have been released pending further investigations. 

Tamer El-Sady, Mostafa Shawky, Mohamed Nagy, Mostafa Mohi, and Mohamed Atef were accused of sabotaging public facilities, inciting strife, and attacking police officers and 15 soldiers.

There is no word on the other three activists arrested. Governor of Alexandria.

Police have released a sketch of the man they claim carried out a suicide bombing last Saturday outside the Al-Qiddissine church in Alexandria. They say the man, in his 20s, set off an explosives belt packed with between 10 and 15 kilogrammes (22-33 pounds) of nails, TNT, and ball bearings.

The official death toll from the bombing remains at 23.