Last updated: 10 march, 2010 - 18:02 GMT

Egypt's top Muslim cleric dies

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Egypt's top Muslim cleric Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi has died.

The spiritual leader of the Sunnis, the majority Muslim denomination, passed away this morning in Saudi Arabia.

The controversial leader, who was appointed by presidential decree, had been the head of one of the highest Sunni institutes, al-Azhar, since 1996.

He had infuriated radical Islamists with his moderate views on women wearing the veil and had condemned female genital mutilation.

The Grand Sheikh will be buried in Saudi Arabia but a symbolic funeral is expected in Cairo.

From where Focus on Africa's Ranyah Sabry reports.

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