Egyptian policeman shot by Israeli soldiers near Eilat

Published today (updated) 17/08/2009 13:18 [MaanImages] Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies -

An Egyptian border guard was shot by an Israeli soldier along the two countries' border early on Monday morning, the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported the same day.

Israel's military said an inquiry into the incident showed that the soldier had seen a "suspicious person" some 20 kilometers north of Eilat and fired in the air, the paper said.

But the "suspicious person" ended up being an Egyptian policeman, who fired back. Soldiers then opened fire toward the cop, who sustained moderate to serious wounds, according to the newspaper.

The report added that Israeli and Egyptian forces were cooperating in the investigation.

Columbian soldier killed in Egypt

Saturday August 15, 2009 03:33 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Egyptian sources reported that a Columbian soldier, member of the peacekeeping force between Egypt and Israel, was killed Thursday in a shooting incident that involved members of the international force, one soldier was injured.

Normand Saint-Pierre, representative of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), stationed in northern Sinai, said that the incident took place on Thursday at about 08:30 P.M.

The Columbian unit is based at the Al-Goura camp, in northern Sinai.

Pierre said that a weapon was discharged by a Columbian soldiers killed one soldier and wounding another.  

He added that one of the soldiers was in a serious condition and was airlifted to an Israeli hospital where he died of his wounds. The second soldier is receiving treatment at a clinic in Al-Goura military base.

 An investigation is underway; it was revealed that the three soldiers involved in the incident were on guard duty when the soothing took place.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Egyptian security official told the AFP that it is likely that the shooting happened as a result of a scuffle.

It is worth mentioning that the Multinational Force and Observers includes nearly 2000 soldiers. Eleven countries, including the United States, provide military support to the force.

It was set up after Egypt and Israel signed a peace deal in 1979. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula as it was returned to Egypt. The MFO is in charge of ensuring that the security provisions of the peace treaty are not violated.