Egyptian police, Palestinians shoot each other; Egyptian killed
dsharavi
By The Associated Press
Thu., January 07, 2010 Tevet 21, 5770
An Egyptian border guard was killed and at least a dozen Palestinians
wounded in a shooting scuffle along the Gaza Strip border.
One official said Wednesday that the border guard was shot dead by a
Palestinian sniper while Gazan youths hurled stones across the border
at the Egyptian security forces.
Egyptian forces opened fire on Palestinians who were pelting them with
rocks from the other side of the border over frustration that an aid
convoy had been delayed.
Gaza's Hamas rulers called for the protest earlier over the delay of
an international aid convoy at the nearby Egyptian port city of El-
Arish, but soon lost control of the situation as hundreds of youths
began hurling rocks across the border at the guards.
Hamas police fired shots to disperse the crowd and shots were also
heard from the Egyptian side the border. Palestinian health official
Moawiya Hassanein said the injuries were from gunfire and tear gas.
The incident follows a late night clash between international pro-Gaza
activists and Egyptian security clashed at the nearby Mediterranean
port of El-Arish when Egypt refused to allow part of the convoy to
enter its territory and move on to Gaza.
More than 50 activists and over a dozen members of the security forces
injured. Activists briefly seized some policemen as well.
The clashes add to the embarrassment of Egypt, which has come under
fire from Arab and Muslim groups for cooperating with Israel in its 28-
month blockade of the impoverished territory. The blockade was imposed
after Hamas violently seized control of the territory from the forces
of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
More than 500 international activists accompanied the convoy organized
by the British-based group Viva Palestina, bringing tons of
humanitarian supplies, as well as vehicles, to Gaza. The group
includes British, American, Jordanian and Turkish activists and
lawmakers.
The scuffles at the port broke out late Tuesday at al-Arish port
building when authorities told the organizers that out of the nearly
200 vehicles, some 59 can't enter Gaza through Egypt, but must go
through Israeli terminals.
A security official said the vehicles in question are carrying pickup
trucks, sedans, generators and other equipment, which are not allowed
to pass through the Egyptian crossing at Rafah and had to go via
Israel. Only medical aid and passengers are allowed through, the
official said.
British MP George Galloway told Sky News television that the activists
were negotiating with authorities and refusing to leave behind their
vehicles.
"We refused this because it's a breach of the agreement which we
reached," he said. "It is completely unconscionable."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said the rules were clear from
the start, and accused the activists of coordinating with Hamas to
create problems. He said the private automobiles are not considered
humanitarian goods, and must enter from Israel.
"We didn't mislead anyone. They have their interests ... and they want
to make up problems and clash with Egypt," he told The Associated
Press.
"We are activists. We condemn the Israeli siege to start with. We will
only enter through an Egyptian-Palestinian crossing," said Wael al-
Sakka, a Jordanian activist.
Alice Howard, a spokeswoman for the group, said organizers were
negotiating with an Egyptian security official, who said he would come
back with answers.
But instead, 2,000 riot police returned, spraying the activists with
water cannons, and hurling rocks.
Television reports showed images of both riot police and activists
hurling stones at each other and said clashes began when angry
protesters attempted to leave the port area and were driven back by
riot police.
Howard, speaking from London, said more than 50 activists were injured
in the scuffle, including to the head and neck. The group's Web site
showed images of injured activists.
An Egyptian security official said the activists used two trucks to
block the port gates, burned tires, and briefly detained a police
officer and four of his men. They were later released, some with
broken ribs.
The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not
authorized to speak to the media.
Al-Sakka, the Jordanian activist, said the police charged a peaceful
sit-in at the gates of the port. He said the group was not allowed to
get out of the port building, denying government claims they have took
control of the premise.
The Egyptians were too high-strung. The police is the reason for the
tension, al-Sakka said.
He said six activists were detained, including Americans and British
citizens.
The security official said five were detained, but didn't identify
them. U.S. embassy officials did not immediately have information on
the arrests.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1140333.html
Deborah
Adder's Fork, and Blind-worm's Sting,
Lizard's leg, and Howlet's wing,
For a Charm of powerful trouble
Like a Hell-broth boil and bubble.
Al Nakba
>
> Deborah
>
> Adder's Fork, and Blind-worm's Sting,
> Lizard's leg, and Howlet's wing,
> For a Charm of powerful trouble
> Like a Hell-broth boil and bubble.
a good time was had by all!
cornholio
I fully support the muslimes' rights to kill each other.
dsharavi
That seems to have been the general attitude when the late King Husayn
sent his troops into "Palestinian" settlements in Jordan, and
massacred 20,000 of their civilians. Didn't even bother the OAU: all
they were interested was the detention of two Algerian citizens by
Israel, and the continued arms sales to the racist South African
regime by France, the UK, and West Germany.
Deborah