Egypt quietly backed Hamas takeover

LONDON, June 20 (UPI) -- Egypt supported Hamas in its heavily armed takeover of Gaza, it was reported Wednesday.

Egyptian authorities cooperated with Hamas in the shipments of weapons and explosives because they believed a Hamas takeover of Gaza would curb insurgency infiltration in the Sinai Peninsula, reported Middle East Newsline.

"The Egyptians were in the picture as early as several weeks ago," an unidentified intelligence source told Middle East Newsline.

Hamas leaders convinced Egyptian authorities that Hamas' rival, Fatah, was working with al-Qaida-linked groups to undermine Hamas in Gaza, Newsline reported.

Egyptian authorities feared Fatah would let al-Qaida infiltrate the Sinai Peninsula to attack the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Newsline said.