Officials said Egypt has closed most of the breaches in the Sinai-Gaza
border wall. They said 4,000 Egyptian troops and 12 armored personnel
carriers were sent to eastern Sinai to prevent the flow of Palestinians into
the peninsula.
About 700,000 Palestinians, or half of the population of the Gaza Strip,
were reported to have entered Sinai. At times, Egyptian troops were seen
firing into the air in an attempt to restore order.
So far, officials said, Egyptian forces have been ordered not to use
lethal means against the Palestinians. They said several of the injured
officers, including two senior commanders, were in critical condition.
"There have been injuries, including 10 to 12 central security forces,
26 border guards and two high-ranking officers," the foreign minister said.
"Some of those being treated in hospital are in critical condition."
Officials said Egypt has sought to stop Palestinians from the Gaza Strip
from crossing Sinai to the African mainland. They said scores of
Palestinians have already been arrested in central Egypt.
Palestinians also clashed with Egyptian forces in several areas of the
divided city of Rafah. In some cases, the Palestinians were angered by the
lack of fuel and other supplies.
"There is an Egyptian desire to control the border and to control the
flow of Palestinians in and out of the Gaza Strip," Abu Al Gheit said.
"There is also a desire to restore the arrangements which existed on the
border."