Egypt beefs up border security with the Gaza Strip

By Yusri Mohamed

QANTARA, Egypt (Reuters) - Egypt sent about 300 riot police to boost security at its border with Gaza on Monday as Palestinians demanded the opening of the Rafah crossing for patients needing hospital treatment.

Large parts of Gaza plunged into darkness on Sunday when its main power plant shut down after Israel blocked fuel supplies and sealed the border to the Hamas-run territory. Hospitals are performing only emergency surgery.

Egyptian security officials said about 300 people demonstrated on the Palestinian side of the crossing on Monday.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged Israel to lift the blockade against Palestinians in the coastal strip.

Mubarak telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Monday to warn of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the state-run agency MENA reported.

Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal spoke by telephone to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who briefed him on international efforts to make Israel "end this tragedy immediately", Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said.

"The collective punishment should stop immediately," Zaki told Reuters.

Saudi Arabia called Israel's actions a "brutal collective punishment" and said it would increase humanitarian aid to Palestinians.