Militants Attack Egypt Checkpoint, Kill 5 Police
Source: AP via ABC News
Militants attacked a police checkpoint near a Mediterranean resort area frequented by Egyptian holidaymakers, killing five policemen and losing four of their own in the ensuing gunbattle, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the ministry said the attack took place in the Dhabaa area in the coastal province of Matrouh late Tuesday. Security forces deployed at a nearby port rushed to the site and pursued the attackers, which it described as "terrorists."
Egyptian daily al-Masry al-Youm said the attackers shot and killed the policemen, then set fire to their vehicle, leaving their bodies badly charred.
The Interior Ministry statement updated initial descriptions of the attack given to The Associated Press and reported late Tuesday by a security official who had said two policemen were killed in a car crash while pursuing militants.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-starts-digging-section-suez-canal-24846098
Do not be surprised if there is another civil war in Egypt in the not so distant future. Many view their current leader as Mubarak redux.
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Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Though i may be mistaken, I think Mubarak killed fewer people.
happyslug
(14,779 posts)
oberliner
(58,724 posts)The resort itself appears to be in the eastern portion of that province for what that is worth. About halfway between Cairo and the border with Libya.
happyslug
(14,779 posts)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Dabaa
Just north of the Qattara Depression
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qattara_Depression
It is only 60 KM EAST of El Alamain of WWII fame (and I still read Reports of left over mines from WWII in the area):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Alamein
oberliner
(58,724 posts)As I indicated above.
happyslug
(14,779 posts)The Legal Border between Egypt of Libya is miles to the west, but the real border, has always been the Qattara Depression and north 50-80 KM (or 34 to 50 Miles). The Qattara Depression is considered impassable (except by Camel and then carefully), thus between the depression and any line between the depression and the Mediterranean sea has always been the real western border of Egypt. This is why the battle of Al Alamein was fought were it was, it is part of that choke point.
Anything further West is NOT worth holding, and given the nature of the Qattara Depression, the distance between that depression and the sea is chock point to stop any attacker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qattara_Depression_Project
Having said that, if Radical Libyans have manage to infiltrate BEYOND this area, it is NOT a good sign for Egypt for the next real obstacle is the Nile itself, and the Nile is Egypt.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Are you suggesting that Libyan nationals might have been involved?
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)They're the guys who thought the Muslim Brotherhood were too mellow.
But now, there's probably MB types who may be going down the path of armed struggle, too. They tried the democratic electoral path, and see what that got them.
I hope the Libyans are too busy fucking up their own country to be worrying about Egypt.
