Three killed in clashes with police near Egyptian-Libyan border

[News_Editor]

Three killed in clashes with police near Egyptian-Libyan border

2011-07-02 23:57:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) -- At least three people were killed on Saturday when protesters clashed with Egyptian security forces after an alleged smuggler was shot by police in the western city of el-Salloum, near the border with Libya, the Egyptian Gazette reported.

"Three citizens were killed in the clashes. Four police cars were torched outside the police station, where the clashes happened after a smuggler called Gomaa Abdel-Salam was shot dead," a security official said on condition of anonymity.

Abdel-Salam, who was allegedly trying to smuggle copper piping into Egypt from Libya, was taken to el-Salloum Hospital where his family and other local people attacked the police. According to the official, Abdel-Salam's father and another family member were injured in the incident.

"Talks are underway with senior tribesmen in the area to end the rioting, in which three rioters have been killed," the official continued, denying any deaths among police or army personnel.

The ongoing violence in Libya has made it much easier for smuggled weapons to make their way to Cairo.

Egypt has been witnessing clashes between the public and police in recent days. Thousands of Egyptians on Friday took the streets of three cities in the so-called "Friday of Retribution" deploring the recent police brutality. Protesters demanded bringing charges against the police officers involved in this week's violent events in and around the Tahrir Square in Cairo.

Egypt's Ministry of Health informed that 1,114 people were injured in the violent clashes; 990 of them were given treatment at the square while 124 were transported to nearby hospital for further medical care.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-02