Egypt arrests al-Qaida cell

JERUSALEM, July 6 (UPI) -- Members of an al-Qaida affiliated terror cell planning to target gas lines running between Israel and Egypt have been arrested, an Egyptian newspaper said.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported details of the arrests Monday.

The al-Masry al-Youm English-language Web site said three Belgians, a Frenchman, a Briton, two Palestinian brothers and five Egyptian nationals were arrested by Egyptian security forces in Abou Faqim in northern Sinai, several days ago.

The report said cell members had weapons, car bombs, bomb belts and antitank rockets.

The report identified Khaled Mohamed Ahmed, as one of the Egyptian nationals arrested, and said he is the leader of the al-Qaida affiliated Global Islamic Front.

Two Palestinian brothers identified as Hisham and Ahmed Abdel Rahman Khalil El Saie fled to Egypt via a tunnel in the Gaza Strip, and were instructed by Ahmed to carry out terror attacks, the report said. The attacks included blowing up gas pipes between Israel and Egypt and blowing up Israeli ships in the Suez Canal, after monitoring their movements.