Militants attack gas pipeline in Egypt's Sinai

[April 09, 2012]  EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) -- Militants on Monday again blew up a gas pipeline in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula that transports fuel to neighboring Israel and Jordan, a senior Egyptian security official said.

The attack on the pipeline was the 14th time it was targeted since the popular uprising that ousted longtime Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak last year. Previous bombings of the pipeline have been blamed on Islamist militants who have stepped up activity in Sinai, taking advantage of a security vacuum caused by a thin police presence in the post-Mubarak era.

Northern Sinai security chief Maj. Gen. Saleh al-Masri said Monday's blast hit a section of the pipeline outside the city of el-Arish but did not cause major damage or a fire since the gas flow had been cut following a blast on the pipeline last month.

Al-Masri said the Interior Ministry would send an armored police brigade to guard the area and maintain security because the current number of policemen is not enough to control a vast desert stretch.

But he said additional army units would still be needed and they can only be deployed if the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty were amended to allow more troops in the area.

The number of Egyptian forces in demilitarized Sinai is regulated by the 1979 accord, which prohibits the deployment of military forces in the section of Sinai bordering Israel, leaving security in that area in the hands of lightly armed police and border guards.

But in August, Egypt -- acting with Israeli approval -- deployed 2,000 more soldiers and police in the area following a spike in violence.

[Associated Press; By ASHRAF SWEILAM]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.