News Service from House Harris

MID: Palestinians cross into Egypt

RAFAH, Egypt, Dec 28 AP - Palestinians have breached the border fence with Egypt in several places and hundreds have crossed the frontier, prompting Egyptian border guards to open fire, officials and witnesses on both sides of the border say.

An Egyptian security official said there were at least five breaches along the 14km border on Sunday and hundreds of Palestian residents were pouring in.

At least 300 Egyptian border guards have been rushed to the area to reseal the border, the official added on condition on anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.

A resident of the Gaza Strip side of the border, Fida Kishta, said Egyptian border guards opened fire to drive back the Palestinians. Residents have also commandeered a bulldozer to open new breaches.

Palestinians reported several people were wounded by the gunfire.

Israeli aircraft earlier bombed the border area in an apparent attempt to destroy cross border tunnels used to supply the Gaza Strip.

Dr Abdel Qader Higazi, a representative of the Egyptian Doctor's Syndicate in Rafah, said Egyptian authorities closed the border crossing after allowing several trucks of medical supplies into Gaza.