Senate resolution condemns attack on Christians in Egypt, but doesn't mention protests

The Senate on Monday night approved a resolution condemning a New Year's Day attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt. 

But so far, protests against the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have not been mentioned on the Senate floor. 

The resolution, approved by unanimous consent on Monday, does not mention the demonstrations, but calls on Egypt's government to "fully investigate and prosecute the perpetrators" of the attack against the Coptic Christians. S.Res. 22 is fairly narrow, and deals only with the Jan. 1 attacks on the Saint George and Bishop Peter Church in Alexandria. 

The Obama administration and many lawmakers have so far taken a careful approach to the demonstrations in Egypt, a key American ally in the Middle East criticized for years over lax human-rights practices and questionable elections. 

Yet as the demonstrations have continued, some lawmakers in both chambers have become more forceful in criticizing the Egyptian regime. 

The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and co-sponsored by eight Democrats and three Republicans.