Egypt police kill African migrant on Israel border

Tuesday, 14 October 2008

AFP

Egyptian policemen cordon off the area around the Egyptian National Theatre in downtown Cairo as firemen fight a blaze that broke out in the building on September 27, 2008. A fire broke out in the Egyptian National Theatre in central Cairo today. Fire engines rushed to the scene to put out the blaze and officials said it was brought under control quickly with no casualties as the theatre was closed for the weekend. AFP PHOTO/CRIS BOURONCLE

EL-ARISH, Egypt, Oct 14, 2008 (AFP) - Egyptian police shot dead an African migrant and wounded another on Tuesday as they tried to cross illegally into Israel, a security official said.

The two were shot when police saw them about to enter Israel southeast of the Egypt-Gaza border town of Rafah, the official said, adding that the migrants were Eritreans.

Tuesday's shooting brought the number of migrants killed by Egyptian police this year to 23.

On Sunday, police arrested four Sudanese migrants trying to slip into Israel from another part of Egypt's 250-kilometre (155-mile) border with Israel.

African migrants in Egypt complain of poor treatment and discrimination. Hundreds have been arrested trying to slip into Israel.

The border has become a major transit route for migrants, asylum-seekers and drug smugglers. Israel has asked Egypt to clamp down on the traffic.

In August, Amnesty International urged the Egyptian government to launch an investigation into the use of lethal force against illegal migrants.