Egypt accused in killings of African refugees

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: SFGate

Egyptian security forces are killing an increasing number of Darfurian refugees and other African immigrants attempting to cross from Egypt's Sinai Desert into Israel in pursuit of jobs and a better life, according to refugees, human rights groups and the Egyptian government.

Since the first recorded border killing in the summer of 2007, when Egyptian authorities announced a live-fire policy on the Sinai border, Egyptian security forces have shot dead at least 28 immigrants as they left Egypt for Israel, the rights groups Amnesty International said Thursday. Of those, the group said, 23 have been killed since January.

Survivors of three border shootings say Egyptian forces shot and killed some immigrants without warning as they lay on the ground or raised their hands in surrender. Egypt denies the allegation.

Although most refugees interviewed on the subject by human rights groups have said warning shots preceded the shootings, the rights groups contend the use of deadly force violates international law because the unarmed immigrants pose no threat. At times, though, local Bedouins who guide the immigrants to the border do carry weapons, and Bedouin smugglers have killed two Egyptian security officials since December.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/11/MNJ312SI1S.DTL

[BunkerHill24]

1. unacceptable!...n/t