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Egypt defends its border guards in shooting migrants
4:23 Am
Egypt has defended its border guards, who are accused of easily using their guns to stop illegal migrants trying to cross the border with Israel. Recently, 4 people from sub-Saharan Africa were shot dead by Egyptian border guards while trying to cross into Israel. They didn’t carry any ID on them and, according to the guards, were shot when they attempted to escape. In total 12 illegal migrants were killed on the border this year, all of them unarmed. Last year at least 28 people were shot on the at the border, the Gulf Times reports. The border with Israel has become a transit point for illegal migrants, refugees and smugglers. Israel itself asked Egypt to curb the traffic. However, Egypt’s methods have caused lots of criticism from human rights organizations. Yesterday a foreign ministry representative said that first the border guards warn the migrants through loud-speakers, and then fire in the air. They only shoot people as the last resort, if other measures don’t stop the migrants, the ministry representative says.
Saturday, 2010-03-13, 10:19 Am
