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Egyptian Soldier Killed During Palestinian Protests

   VOA News 06 January 2010
   An  Egyptian  soldier  (top  R) takes position in the Egyptian side of
   Rafah  as Palestinian demonstrators stand on their side of the divided
   border town during clashes on January 6, 2010.

Photo: AFP

   An  Egyptian  soldier  (top  R) takes position in the Egyptian side of
   Rafah  as Palestinian demonstrators stand on their side of the divided
   border town during clashes, 06 Jan 2010

   Egyptian  security  officials  one of their soldiers has been shot and
   killed during a protest by Palestinians along the Egypt-Gaza border.
   The  incident  took  place  Wednesday  while Palestinians threw stones
   across  the  border  at Egyptian security forces near the Rafah border
   crossing.
   Witnesses  say  at  least  two  Palestinians  were wounded by Egyptian
   police who fired shots in response to the rock-throwing Palestinians.
   Nearby  at  the  Egyptian  port  of  Arish,  pro-Palestinian activists
   protesting  Egypt's  refusal  to  let them deliver aid to Gaza clashed
   with Egyptian police late Tuesday.
   Witnesses say about 55 people were injured, including 40 activists and
   15 police.
   The  activists  had  shipped  about  200 vehicles loaded with aid from
   Syria to Arish, with the goal of delivering the convoy to Gaza through
   the Rafah border crossing.
   But  Egyptian  authorities  ordered  the  activists  to send 55 of the
   vehicles  through an Israeli checkpoint, saying the vehicles contained
   equipment prohibited from crossing through the Rafah terminal.
   The  group  of  520  international  activists  led by British lawmaker
   George  Galloway  rejected  the demand and blocked the port's entrance
   using  their vehicles.  Galloway said his group fears that Israel will
   prevent the vehicles from reaching Gaza.
   In   recent   days,   Egypt  has  blocked  hundreds  of  international
   pro-Palestinian  activists  from  traveling  to Gaza to mark the first
   anniversary of Israel's offensive against Hamas militants who rule the
   territory.
   Egypt  and  Israel  have  kept  their borders with Gaza largely closed
   since Hamas seized power there in 2007.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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