Egyptian police seize explosives in Sinai

EL ARISH, Egypt, Aug 19 (Reuters) Egyptian police in north Sinai seized about 250 kilos of explosives they suspect were destined for smuggling into the todayian territories, a security source said on Sunday.

The source said police had received a tip-off that smugglers had stashed the high explosives in a mountainous area 3 km (1.8 miles) south of the large coastal town of El Arish near Egypt's borders with the Gaza Strip.

A search of the area turned up four plastic sacks loaded with the explosives, the source added.

No arrests had been made in connection with the explosives, but police were searching the area for more explosive caches.

Egyptian police routinely find large quantities of explosives and ammunition in Sinai, sometimes hidden in tunnels near the border with neighbouring Gaza. On August 5 they found 500 kg of explosives, around 90 kms southwest of El Arish.

Egypt said last month the smuggling of weapons, ammunition and drugs through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza had dropped since the Islamist movement Hamas took control in June.

Israel has accused Egypt of not doing enough to stop smuggling, and the U.S. House of Representatives has proposed cutting 200 million dollars of annual military aid to Egypt unless it improves border security and its human rights record.

Reuters CS VP0030