News In Brief
| Cairo
Egypt asks Italy's help in clearing Red Sea of mines
Egypt has asked Italy to join international efforts to clear the Red Sea of mines. A Polish cargo ship joined the list of more than a dozen vessels hit by blasts since July 9.
As French and US ships steamed toward the region to investigate the explosions, the Polish news agency PAP said the 5,713-ton Jozef Wybicki was shaken by a blast Saturday on its way to the Saudi port of Jiddah. PAP said the explosion, at the mouth of the Red Sea, caused no casualties.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Egypt suspected Libya and Iran, but could not be 100 percent sure. Both countries have denied involvement in the explosions.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Navy continued a round-the-clock vigil at the approaches of the Suez Canal, linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, with orders to stop and search any ship suspected of carrying explosives.
