Gaza-Egypt border opens after being overrun

PALESTINIAN policemen angry over the killing of a fellow officer stormed the Gaza-Egypt border crossing yesterday, firing in the air and forcing European monitors to flee and close the terminal for several hours, Palestinian and European officials said.

About 100 policemen entered the compound in the southern town of Rafah early yesterday and took up positions alongside border patrol officers at the customs section of the crossing, Palestinian security officials and witnesses said.

The unarmed European observers - responsible for monitoring the crossing and enforcing the terms of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement that opened the border last month - then left and took refuge in a nearby Israeli military base. The police withdrew quietly after about three hours, enabling Palestinian security personnel to retake control.