Gazans breach Egyptian border

TENS of thousands of Palestinians on foot and on donkey carts poured into Egypt from Gaza yesterday, after masked gunmen used land mines to blast down a seven-mile barrier dividing the border town of Rafah.

The border breach was a dramatic protest against the closure of the impoverished Palestinian territory last week by Israel.

Jubilant men and women crossed over the toppled corrugated metal barrier, carrying goats, chickens and crates of Coca-Cola. Some brought back televisions, car tires and cigarettes and one man even bought a motorcycle.