There is no definite information that the people who attacked soldiers during the violence in Cairo on Sunday were Coptic protesters, said Information Minister Osama Heikal on Monday.
He told state TV that the developments should have been handled differently.
Military and security personnel clashed with a group of some 2000 protesters, mostly Copts, as they marched towards the state TV building, known as Maspero, to protest recent against attacks on Christians.
Reports indicated that the clashes resulted in the the death of 24 people and the injury of 292 others.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses gave conflicting accounts on whether it was the protesters or a group of unidentified gunmen that began shooting.
Heikal said foreign hands were behind the events. He went on to say that several forces have been attempting to bring down state institutions since the beginning of the revolution, and that they do not want Egypt to be a strong or law abiding state.
