05 January 2009 - 01H00

Egypt denies Kadhafi's son permission to land at airport

Egyptian authorities denied permission for Seif al-Islam, son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, to fly into El-Arish airport to reach the Rafah crossing to Gaza, the Kadhafi Foundation said late Sunday.

Seif al-Islam wanted to visit the embattled Gaza Strip via the Rafah terminal "to express his support for the Palestinian people," according to an official from the Foundation, which the leader's son heads.

He contacted the Egyptian authorities on Saturday seeking clearance to land at El-Arish but they turned him down because of "fears for his safety," the Foundation official told AFP.

It was Seif al-Islam's second attempt to go to Gaza, the official said.

The Foundation also said two Libyan aircraft arrived at El-Arish on Sunday to evacuate Palestinians wounded by Israel's air and ground attack on the Gaza Strip.

Libyan doctors are at the Rafah terminal to "treat the emergency cases," it said, adding that Al-Marwa, a Libyan boat carrying aid to Gaza, docked on Sunday at El-Arish port.

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