Hundreds of protesters arrived at the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral on Tuesday within the proceedings of the "national unity" march planned to denounce the outbreak of sectarian violence that swamped Egypt over the weekend.

The protesters marched from Al-Fattah Mosque in downtown Cairo under the slogan, "Houses of worship are a red line."

The protesters, who belong to different political forces and parties, held the interior ministry responsible for the cathedral clashes, saying, "The inaction of security forces was a main reason behind the escalation of the clashes."

They asked the government to take immediate decision to ensure the security of worship places and demanded sacking the interior minister. 

Violent clashes had broken out outside the cathedral on Sunday during a funeral for four Christians who were killed in sectarian violence over the weekend in a town northeast of Cairo.

Eight persons were killed and dozens were injured during the clashes.