Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., February 22, 2008 Adar1 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:22 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 21:58 21/02/2008 Rights group slams Egypt for shooting African migrants on Israel border By The Associated Press Tags: African migrant  CAIRO, Egypt - Amnesty International on Thursday accused Egypt of using excessive force against illegal migrants trying to sneak into Israel, and called on authorities to launch an investigation into the recent killings of five Africans on the border. The London-based human rights group urged the Egyptian government to protect the human rights of individuals intercepted at the border with Israel and immediately launch a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the recent killings. The five Africans - two women and three men from Sudan, Eritrea and Ivory Coast - have been killed in separate incidents near the Egypt-Israel border since late January. They were believed to have paid hundreds of dollars to human traffickers to help them cross into Israel. Advertisement Israel estimates that 2,800 people - mostly from Africa - have entered the country illegally through its border with Egypt in recent years, searching for jobs. The number shot up last summer, apparently as word spread of job opportunities in Israel and a more lenient policy toward refugees. As many as 50 people arrived each day in June, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In an Arabic statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, Amnesty International said Egyptian security forces are required to use lethal force only when their own lives are in immediate danger, according to UN agreements. "An inquiry into the killings should begin immediately," it said. "Make the result of this investigation public and bring anyone found to have used excessive or illegal force to justice," the statement said. On January 30, Egyptian guards at the border with the Gaza Strip fatally shot two Africans, a man and a woman, as they tried to illegally cross from Egypt into the Hamas-controlled coastal strip. At the time, Palestinians were streaming into Egypt across a border fence blown up by Hamas militants. The two Africans killed were among eight migrants suspected of trying to take advantage of the border commotion to slip into Israel undetected. The Amnesty report encouraged human rights activists to press Egypt to investigate the January 30 killings, and to conduct an autopsy on an Eritrean woman shot dead by Egyptian guards on February 16. It urged supporters to send e-mails and letters to various Egyptian government ministers, as well as to former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali, who now heads Egypt's National Council of Human Rights. In July 2007 alone, over 230 mostly Sudanese migrants were arrested trying to cross into Israel without official permission, Amnesty International said. Related articles: Egypt police kill Sudanese migrant on Israel border Egyptian police kill two Africans during bid to cross into Israel Egyptian troops kill African man trying to cross border to Israel Five wounded as Egyptian guards fire on African refugees on Israel border Egyptian border police kill African refugee trying to enter Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   The black sheep The U.S. freezes Assad's cousin's assets for trying to weaken Iraq and Lebanon. Pristina, Ramallah Yasser Abed Rabbo called on the West Bank to declare independence like Kosovo.   1.   Thanks Egypt! 22:22  |  Avram 21/02/08   2.   As a member of Amnesty International. 22:37  |  Sylvia Margolis. 21/02/08   3.   All Sudanese refugees should seek to Svitzeland,to Geneve 22:57  |  Absolute Sweden 21/02/08   4.   Hello Natallie Durson? Where are you?!?! 23:32  |  Joe Sittizen 21/02/08   5.   How many refugees in Suisse. 00:01  |  Avram 22/02/08   6.   # 4 Natallie`s magically gone, kaput, adios. 00:02  |  Petra 22/02/08   7.   No Problem when Arabs massacre their own children! 00:05  |  ClickSchmuck 22/02/08   8.   # 3 Absolute....a vodka I believe. 00:05  |  Sylvia Margolis 22/02/08   9.   #2. Sylvia Margolis. "Many are of the Christian faith." 00:38  |  Maureen Ann 22/02/08   10.   #4 Joe Sittizen I seldom read Nutalies posts 01:28  |  MaryRose 22/02/08   11.   can`t believe it 02:49  |  wazwaz 22/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: This November, I'm voting christian Responses: 22 Monopoly voting site drops country names after row over J'lem ownership Responses: 31 Ari Shavit: Time for Israel to show generosity toward Syria Responses: 18 Daniel Levy: Obama's change could be good for Israel Responses: 23 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams Responses: 104 McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother Responses: 10 Rosner's Domain Obama has a mainstream Democratic team (WTR) Guests: Jewish women don't want to be shut out What America wants from an operation in Gaza U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? More Headlines 19:04 Nasrallah: Lebanese agents planning new war with Israel within months 19:20 IAEA: Iran not complying with nuclear program inspection 19:03 Hamas: We won't rule out any bid for cease-fire with Israel 18:06 Turkish army launches ground offensive into northern Iraq 14:59 McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother 18:01 U.S. to announce new aid plan for West Bank, Gaza Strip 17:52 Iraqi Shiites rally against Danish reprint of Muhammad cartoon 14:52 Thousands show solidarity with Qassam-stricken Sderot 08:47 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams 14:58 Actor Will Smith receives damages over alleged praise for Hitler Previous Editions Select Day 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb

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