Egypt finds weapons caches in Sinai

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

EL-ARISH, Egypt (AFP) — Egyptian authorities have found weapons and explosives in the Sinai desert they believe were destined for the Gaza Strip, a security official said Saturday.

"Security forces found eight plastic bags containing 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of TNT explosives in a warehouse near the town of El-Arish," the official said.

"We believe the explosives were headed for the Gaza Strip."

The official said that nine automatic weapons were also found in another warehouse in central Sinai after a tip-off from Bedouins.

Israel and the United States have repeatedly accused Egypt of not doing enough to stop arms smuggling into the neighbouring Gaza Strip, which has been under the control of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas for the past year....