CAIRO (AFP) -- Eighteen people were wounded when clashes broke out between Muslims and Christians in a village south of Cairo after a Coptic priest celebrated mass at his home, security sources said Monday.

Another 35 people were arrested after Sunday's disturbances in the village of Ezbat Bsharreh, near Beni Sueif, the sources added.

The trouble broke out after a group of young Muslims started throwing stones at the home of the priest Ishaq Castor and preventing Copts from reaching it to join the mass.

Seven Copts were wounded along with 11 Muslims.

The Middle East's largest Christian community, the Copts make up between six and 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million people but complain of frequent discrimination and harassment.