President Michel Sleiman called for dialogue to solve the growing problem of racism in the world, expressing regret over the clashes.

“The only solution toward growing discrimination and prejudice in the East and West is dialogue and genuine calls for unity,” Sleiman’s media office said in a statement Monday.

Violent clashes occurred Saturday night between groups of Muslims and Christians in Cairo after Muslims attacked the Coptic Saint Mena Church in Imbaba following rumors that a Christian woman was being held inside against her will because she wanted to convert to Islam. The clashes resulted in the death of 10 people.

Another church nearby, Saint Mary’s, was set on fire and badly damaged in the overnight clashes.

The sectarian conflict was Egypt’s worst since 13 people died in violence on March 9 sparked by a church-burning and presents a new challenge for generals ruling the country since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt’s army said Sunday that 190 people would be tried in military courts over the weekend’s violence.

In his statement Monday, Sleiman also expressed his sympathy for all victims of violence.

“Places of worships are all places for prayers and self-reconciliation first and they should never be attacked for any reason or slogan,” Sleiman said.

Kataeb (Phalange) Party leader Amine Gemayel told Kataeb.org that the attack on Christians ruined the reputation of the Egyptian revolution and “affects the definition of coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the Middle East,” and warned that it had major consequences.

He also emphasized the importance of finding a permanent protection system for Coptics to prevent similar attacks in the future.

“The new Egyptian regime is determined to establish internal stability, undertaking political reforms and fighting corruption,” Gemayel said.

Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss also spoke about the clashes in Egypt, expressing his “utmost concern” about the incident.

“In Lebanon, we are the first to recognize the danger of sectarian clashes; therefore, we call on our brothers in Egypt to work immediately on turning this abhorrent page and returning to the situation that had originally placed Egypt in a position of hope for all Arabs.”

Meanwhile, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt said Egypt was going through a “critical time,” adding that that recent clashes between Muslims and Christians in Egypt were a result of the incitement of sectarian strife in the country.