Egyptian border guard shot dead at Gaza frontier
Security officials say border guard shot dead by Palestinian sniper as Gazan youths hurl stones across border at Egyptian security forces. Meanwhile, medical officials say at least 20 Palestinians injured in clashes as Egyptians open fire
Egyptian security officials say a border guard has been shot dead in a scuffle with Palestinians along the Gaza 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.
At least 20 Palestinians were injured from Egyptian fire during a protest against an underground steel wall Egypt is building to block smuggling tunnels, medical officials said.
Eyewitnesses told Ynet the Egyptian security forces opened fire at the demonstrators, and 14 of them required medical treatment in nearby hospitals.
Tuesday night's clashes in El-Arish (Photo: AFP)
Earlier, Hamas urged the Palestinians to go out and protest against the Egyptian authority's decision not to allow some of the international activists into the Strip.
Overnight Tuesday, about 55 people were injured in clashes between Egyptian police and pro-Palestinian activists trying to get a relief convoy into the Strip, militants and medics said.
Some 520 activists belonging to the convoy - led by charismatic and outspoken British MP George Galloway - broke down the gate at the port in El-Arish to protest an Egyptian decision to ship some of the goods through Israel.
They blocked the two entrances to the Sinai port with vehicles, and clashed with police. Forty were injured, a source close to them said, while medical sources said 15 policemen were also hurt.
Reuters, the Associated Press and Ali Waked contributed to this report
