29 October 2012Last updated at 19:09

In pictures: Coptic Christians vote

Egyptian Coptic Christian bishops and priests queue under the sun waiting to vote for a new spiritual leader at St Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo's al-Abbassiya district.

A council of Coptic Christians is voting for a new spiritual leader for their ancient Church. Bishops and priests queued in the sun in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, as they waited to cast their ballots.

A file image shows the body of Pope Shenouda III, the spiritual leader of the Middle East's largest Christian minority, sitting dressed in formal robes at the St Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo's al-Abbassiya district (file image from 18 March 2012).

The succession follows the death, in March and at the age of 88, of Pope Shenouda III. He led the Coptic Orthodox Church for 40 years.

The caretaker pope of the Coptic Church, Bishop Pachomius, registers his name to vote at St Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo's al-Abbassiya district.

Some 2,400 clergymen, community leaders and key Egyptian Coptic figures - including the caretaker Pope Bishop Pachomius - are voting for their new leader.

Egyptian Coptic Christian bishops and priests queue to vote for a new spiritual leader at Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo's al-Abbassiya district.

A blindfolded child will pick the name of the next Pope from a shortlist of three on 4 November.

St Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo's al-Abbassiya district.

Copts make up 10% of Egypt's overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim population of 83 million.

Coptic caretaker Pope Bishop Pachomius casts his vote at St Mark's Coptic Cathedral (handout image provided to AFP by St Mark's Coptic Cathedral).

It is a key time for the Coptic Christian community in Egypt as an Islamist resurgence and a rise in the number of targeted attacks has left them fearful for their future.

Middle East

In pictures: Coptic Christians vote

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