A conciliatory deal was brokered by local and religious leaders between Muslims and Christians in the Sohag governorate village of Awlād Khalaf, the scene of deplorable clashes that left three people wounded and eight houses ablaze.

A series of sessions ended with a final one during which they exchanged greetings and shook hands, pledging that these incidents will never take place again.

The quarrel had first erupted when Wahīb Halīm built a house over an area of 350 meters in violation of a construction license to build it over 90 meters, fuelling rumors that he was going to turn the dwelling place into a church.

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