Egypt's FM threatens Palestinians on border

CAIRO - Egypt's foreign minister said that no further violations of its borders would be tolerated in the wake of a 12-day breach of its frontier with Gaza and said anyone daring to cross would have their legs broken, the state news agency reported.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit also met yesterday with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State David Welch and discussed the situation in Gaza and efforts to push forward the peace talks.

Welch said the border crisis was not Egypt's fault and a system had to be instituted to get the situation under control and avoid a repetition of the recent problems.

The earlier, uncharacteristically assertive, remarks by Aboul Gheit came during a late night Wednesday interview on state television.

"Anyone who violates Egypt's borders will get his legs broken," Aboul Gheit was quoted as saying.

He added that Egypt only allowed the Palestinians to cross the border after Hamas blew up the wall because of fears over the humanitarian situation resulting from Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

He blamed Israel for the humanitarian crisis and hardship that Gaza is experiencing, and for responding to the Palestinian (Hamas) missiles with collective punishment.

He also criticized Hamas for launching those missile attacks, describing the confrontation as a laughable caricature resulting in self-inflicted wounds.