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Egypt sanctions Palestinians to cross border

23 January 2008 15:55 (UTC +04:00)

Thousands surged through the Rafah border crossing to stock up on goods kept out of the territory by an Israeli blockade.
Mr Mubarak says he told his security forces to allow the Palestinians to buy their basic needs and go back to Gaza, as long as they were not bearing arms or carrying anything illegal.
Israelâ€™s Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel says his country expects Egypt to reinstate the border.
"Basically we have no presence in that area. It is the Egyptian forces that are deployed alongside the border between Gaza and Egypt," he said.
"So therefore itâ€™s the responsibility of Egypt to ensure that the border operates properly according to the signed agreement. In other words we expect the Egyptians to solve the problem."
Meanwhile, Egyptian authorities detained at least 500 people in Cairo who were demonstrating in support of Palestinians in the Gaza strip, according to a security source.
"The protesters, most of whom belong to the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, were detained as they staged the protest in front of the Arab League headquarters" in the centre of the Egyptian capital, the source said.
The Islamist group, the largest opposition movement in the country, said on its website that 1,000 of its members had been arrested.
Witnesses said security forces used batons and tear gas against the demonstrators and chased them through the streets before arresting them.
Those left standing made their way to the nearby laywersâ€™ union, where about 3,000 people gathered, chanting slogans against the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
"Gaza residents, we are with you night and day!" shouted the protesters holding up copies of the Koran.
"Keep strong Haniya, donâ€™t let go of your gun," they chanted in a call to sacked Palestinian prime minister and senior Hamas official Ismail Haniya. BBC&AFP