Egypt's Coptic Christians have begun three days of mourning for 26 protesters killed during street violence with security forces in Cairo.

Coptic church leaders urged followers to fast and pray during a three-day period that began on Tuesday.

The unrest erupted Sunday night after more than 1,000 Christians marched to the state television building in Cairo to protest a recent attack by Islamist radicals on a Coptic church in the country's south.

Witnesses say demonstrators began fighting with police and soldiers who were guarding the building. They also say security forces in armored vehicles rammed into protesters. Some Muslims joined the fighting.

More violence erupted on Monday outside a hospital where many of the wounded had been taken for treatment. Also Monday, thousands of people turned out for a mass funeral for the victims.

Egypt's ruling military council has ordered the government to investigate the violence.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's roughly 80 million people. Many complain that Egypt's new leadership has been too lenient on Islamists they blame for a series of anti-Christian attacks since a popular uprising forced the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak in February.

The Coptic church issued a statement saying the minority community has suffered repeated problems and the perpetrators have gone unpunished.