Egypt police, Bedouin clash near Gaza border

RAFAH, Egypt, July 30 (Reuters) Thousands of Egyptian riot police clashed with Bedouin protesting against the government near the border with the Gaza Strip today and witnesses said several civilians were shot and wounded.

Mosaad Abou Fajer, a Bedouin political activist, told Reuters by telephone: ''We have five wounded people. One of them is lying in front of me, bleeding from his stomach and his arm.'' Witnesses said several others suffered teargas inhalation.

Security officials said the demonstrators destroyed a traffic check point and opened fire at the police.

The demonstrators were demanding title to the farmland they work, permits to build houses, pardons for sentences imposed by military courts, the early release of imprisoned Bedouin and a waiver of debts to the state-owned agricultural bank.

The Bedouin set fire to tyres, disrupting traffic through the village of Maasoura between the north Sinai towns of Rafah and El Arish, witnesses and security sources said.

Riot police deployed armoured cars and fired teargas canisters and opened fire in the air in an attempt to disperse the protesters.

The Bedouin of north Sinai have become increasingly assertive about their grievances against the government in Cairo and have staged several large protests this year, mainly to demand the release of detainees.

The police detained thousands of Bedouin after a series of bombings at tourist resorts in Sinai between 2004 and 2006.

Abou Fajer said the authorities had set free only about 60 detainees in response to the latest protests.

REUTERS JT RAI2331