Egypt to expedite Mexican tourist attack probe

Mexico City, Sep 28: Egypt has vowed to expedite the probe into the attack on a group of Mexican tourists by its security forces and provide compensation to the victims' families, the media reported on Monday.

A statement by the Mexican foreign ministry said Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Sunday met his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the attack, which killed eight tourists, EFE news reported.

The minister expressed his condolences and assured that his government was committed to finding those responsible for the incident and awarding appropriate compensation to the victims, as demanded by Mexico and reiterated by Massieu during the meeting.

Shoukry said Egyptian ambassador in Mexico Yasser Saban will soon contact the injured and families of those killed to discuss the process of compensation.

On September 13, a group of Mexican tourists was accidentally attacked in the country's Western Desert by Egyptian security forces, who mistook them for terrorists, according to the Egyptian government.

Eight Mexicans lost their lives in the attack while six were injured.

Four Egyptians died too, including the tourist guide.

IANS