News on scores of victims in clashes; Egypt escalates attack against Awlad Hanafi Empire
Egypt, Local, 3/1/2004

Clashes erupted between the Egyptian security forces and the gunmen in al-Nakheila village in Upper Egypt, erupted, as unconfirmed news reports talked about the killing of scores of persons in the attack launched by the police forces against those which it described as "criminal members of drug traffickers and weapons traders.

Regardless to the outcome of the clashes in the village which is situated in Asyout area, these armed confrontations might be considered the worst in Egypt in years. It seemed that the security forces are launching large scale attack against the city, supported by military gunboats and vehicles that are able to hit the leader of "Awlad Hanafi " family, known as Ezzat Hanafi, according to one of the villagers in a telephone call after reports indicated that he was killed.

The security forces called its attack "the Satan island operation." The village which is besieged by 6,000 policemen, using 150 armored vehicles and 70 boats is a peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Nile and is 30 Km to the south of Asyout and its population tolls 2000 inhabitants and number of wanted persons from Awlad Hanafi family is 37. A security source said the police asked for reinforcement from the neighboring Souhaj province.

Sources at the ministry of the interior said that the police which broke into the village were able to control on Saturday part of it, and confrontations are still continuous. But the same source stressed that no victims were reported. On the other hand, one of Awlad Hanafi members, Yassin Hassan, said " there are many killed persons, between 50 and 70," since the beginning of the clashes with the security forces since days. He added there are several wounded including Ezzat Hanafi chief of Awlad Hanafi family.

Security sources stressed that the police forces used heavy machine guns and missiles in their attack. A security source said that the police attacked the village on Saturday from the side of Nile river by boats but the "outlaws retaliated by light weapons." The police says that Awlad Hanafi family still keeps hostages from people of the village, whose number is not known and threaten to kill them if the police continue proceeding.

Awlad Hanafi family are holding several hostages, police sources estimated to be between 150 to 250, while their leader, Ezzat Hanafi, said that number of hostages they hold is 2000. Ezzat threatens to retaliate of what he had of bombs and heavy machine guns and "we'll kill some of the hostages unless the police attack is stopped." Later, sources said that Ezzat Hanafi proposed negotiations with the security forces to ensure his going out safe with his family and to travel abroad.

The Middle East News Agency said that the minister of the interior, Habib al-Adeli, asked the police men to deal firmly with "the criminal elements which try to undermine the security" of the country. He said that the police takes into account "Humanitarian aspects."

Previous Stories:
  Five security men were injured in clashes in Upper Egypt   (2/28/2004)
  Nasser's house in Alexandria turned into historical museum   (2/26/2004)
  ICRC praises Mrs Mubarak's efforts   (2/21/2004)

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