PASSPORTS OF VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY MEMBERS SEIZED

From Kuzaimah Idris

EL-ARISH (Egypt), Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The first batch of the Viva Palestina
convoy flew in to this port city Tuesday, only to find their passports seized by
the Egyptian authorities for seven hours.

The Egyptian Immigration Department stamped the passports of the 157 members
of the convoy with 'entry' and 'exit' simultaneously.

While they were instructed to pay US$15 per person for their visa upon
arrival, exemption was however, given to Malaysian and Turkish citizens aged
above 45.

The members were on the verge of being escorted to Gaza when, as a sign of
protest against the Egyptian decision, they began banging on chairs, jeering and
cheering at the airport.

The Egyptian authorities eventually compromised and the volunteers were
allowed to check into hotels here.

Two other batches of Viva Palestina, totalling 400 members, are expected to
arrive later by chartered aircraft from Greece.

Viva Palestina convoy leader Kevin Ovenden said everyone paid for the visa
to enter Egypt.

"The Egyptians want to send us from here to Gaza...we will not go into Gaza
without our brothers and sisters, we will wait for them to land before we go to
Gaza," he said, adding that a plane which was to ferry the second batch to
El-Arish incurred engine failure and was forced to divert to Damascus, Syria.
-- BERNAMA