Egypt bans by sticks, water a convoy of aid to Rafah includes Europeans and American human rights advocates
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 12/11/2004

The Egyptian police yesterday prevented a convoy for the Egyptian solidarity committee including 70 Europeans and Americans, members in non-governmental organizations to head for Rafah to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people on the occasion of International Day For Human Rights, using sticks and water trucks.

The Egyptian police stopped the convoy which included 300 persons, 150 Km from al-Areesh city to the north of Sinai before heading for Rafah to provide aid for the Palestinians, according to one representative for one of the European organizations.

The representative explained "we are on our way back after talks with the police failed in getting their consent to let us arrive in al-Areesh and from there to Rafah." She added that a press conference will be held today in Cairo on this issue.

Among the Europeans in this convoy are 50 French and the others are Americans, Greeks, British, Germans and Spanish while others are Egyptians and from other Arab states. The French delegation includes member of the French Senate ( of the Green party) Alema Bumedian who said she feels "regret because the Arab countries are not in compliance with their public opinion." She added that the Arab world "is in need of more freedom and more democracy."

An Egyptian source said that the police only permitted the trucks to get in carrying 180 tons of food stuffs and blankets and the escorts of the delegation to pass and that they arrived in Rafah.

The Egyptian police men confiscated the tapes of the amateur photographers and those of al-Jazeera TV.

The police also arrested 6 members of the local committee in solidarity with the Palestinians, who were presumed to receive the convoy in al-Areesh city and were released several hours later.

Earlier the convoy received a license from the police to head for Rafah and hand over a shipment of aids for the Palestinians and was not set to enter Gaza which falls under the Israeli occupation. But it intended to express its solidarity with the Palestinians through its existence at Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the sector.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak calls on Palestinians to make headway in Sharon's era as he is capable of reaching a solution   (12/3/2004)
  Arafat's funeral today in Cairo   (11/12/2004)
  When withdrawal from Gaza is made, UN observers in Sinai are ready to protect the borders   (11/8/2004)

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