TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Officials in Egypt and Libya said they're searching for up to 100 illegal Egyptian immigrants lost in the desert after trying to cross the border into Libya.
Libyan security forces manning a checkpoint at Wad Sahl on the Ajdabya-Tobruk road spotted vehicles trying to illegally bypass their patrol and fired warning shots to get them to stop, the Tobruk Joint Security Room information office said.
One vehicle crashed and overturned. One immigrant was killed by gunfire and the other 16 occupants were slightly injured in the accident, the Libya Herald reported Monday.
The occupants told police up to 100 other illegal immigrants had been trying to bypass Libyan checkpoints and had been abandoned by human smugglers.
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Aty said Tuesday one of the illegal immigrants had been rescued and two others found dead.
Egyptian officials are trying to confirm whether the other roughly 100 illegal immigrants are lost in the desert area, Ahram Online reported.
