Gunmen kill six at Egypt church

Gunmen have killed at least six people in a drive-by shooting outside a church in southern Egypt, as worshippers left a midnight Mass for Coptic Christmas.

The attack took place early on Thursday in the town of Nag Hamadi in Qena province, about 64 kilometres from the famous ancient ruins of Luxor.

A local security official said two gunmen drove by a group as they were walking out of the Virgin Mary church and sprayed gunfire randomly into the crowd.

The official said at least six people had died and an administrator at the hospital where the casualties were taken said seven were dead.