Al-Arish, Egypt - Egyptian security forces Frioday found and destroyed 10 tunnels used to smuggle fuel from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, according to a security source.

Egyptian forces also seized huge amounts of fuel and diesel, along with the pipes which are used to smuggle them through the tunnels.

The source added that police would prepare an auction to sell cattle and sheep they caught before they were smuggled to Gaza.

The tunnels were dug by Palestinians to transfer food supplies, goods and even people from Egypt into the besieged enclave.

Cairo  - Saeed Abdel-Samei's children were terrified. Outside, a mob of villagers were pelting the house with Molotov cocktails and rocks and shouting abuse at the family inside.

Abdel-Samei is one of several Baha'is living in the Upper Egyptian village of Shoraneya who were attacked recently by angry locals.

The 55-year-old father said that after the attack he had to flee to Cairo with his family, where they are staying with relatives.

Cairo  - Egyptian politicians on Thursday unleashed a volley of criticism against newly appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for his statements on Egypt and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

In an official statement sent to reporters earlier on Thursday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry called Lieberman's rejection of the Annapolis peace process on Wednesday "the first setback for efforts toward peace" under the new Israeli government.

Cairo - The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Thursday called the new Israeli foreign minister's rejection of the Annapolis process "the first setback for efforts toward peace" under the new Israeli government.

Addressing Israeli diplomats for the first time as foreign minister on Wednesday, Avigdor Lieberman said the Annapolis process had "no validity whatsoever."

Cairo  - In Egypt, even opposition leaders rarely step down from their positions voluntarily.

When rival factions from Ayman Nour's Ghad Party clashed in November, they nearly burnt to the ground the party's offices in a landmark downtown Cairo building.

In April 2006, the deposed leader of the Wafd Party occupied the party's headquarters with a band of armed henchmen. When rivals arrived and tried to eject him, violent clashes ensued and a fire broke out. Twenty-three people were injured.

Jerusalem  - New Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday he has "respect" for Egypt and would be "happy" to visit there, but added he would expect reciprocal visits by his Egyptian counterpart.

In an address at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on his first day in office, Lieberman said Egypt was an "important" factor in preserving regional stability.