Egypt’s gas pipeline to Israel and Jordan attacked

In Egypt’s north Sinai desert there has been an explosion on the country’s gas pipeline.

Security forces say it was an act of sabotage by an armed gang. The main source supplying the pipeline has been closed and there are no reports of any casualties.

Israel gets 40 percent of its natural gas from Egypt, a deal which was built on their landmark 1979 peace accord.

It is the second attack in a month south of the town of El-Arish, 50 kilometres from the border with Israel. On that occasion explosives left at the scene failed to detonate.

In early February, during the uprising that forced Hosni Mubarak from power, the pipeline was also hit. The country’s former energy minister is due to stand trial on a charge of squandering public funds related to the natural gas deal with Israel.

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