Revenge killings in south Egypt leave 9 dead

Security officials in Egypt say a fight between two families sparked by a dispute in a line to buy bread has killed nine people.

The officials today said the feud began a month earlier in a town in the southern governorate of Assiut when a member of the Shaibaa tribe was killed in a fight over who was first in line to buy bread.

Four members of the rival family were charged over the killing.

After a court hearing today, officials say members of the Shaibaa pursued the defendants' relatives, killing two and their driver. The officials say the bereaved relatives then went to the house of the Shaibaa and killed six.
 

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Revenge killings are common in southern Egypt.