4 illegal migrants held in Egypt

2008-04-10 13:41

El-Arish - A security official says Egyptian border police have arrested four African migrants as they tried to cross illegally into Israel.

The official said the three Ivorians and a Guinean were caught in the el-Madfouna border village. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to talk to the media.

The official said that one of the Africans suffered a small head wound while resisting arrest on Thursday. He was taken to hospital. The migrants reportedly paid $500 to the traffickers for shelter and the ride across the desert.

Separately, Egyptian security forces uncovered an underground weapons cache with land mines, RPGs, mortars, automatic rifles and ammunition, in the deserted el-Qure'a district, some 10km from the Gaza border.

- AP