Egypt reseals Gaza border breach

Egyptian troops have sealed the border with the Gaza Strip, ending 10 days of freedom of movement for Palestinians.

The troops are still allowing Palestinians and Egyptians to return home, but have stopped allowing any new cross-border movement.

The border was breached when Hamas militants blew up sections of the wall to break a blockade imposed by Israel.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians took the opportunity to cross into Egypt to buy supplies.

Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area

Egyptian forces came with barbed wire and barricades to close the only remaining gap in their side of the border.

Troops patrolled in armoured cars and stood in rooftop emplacements as the border was resealed.

The closure followed talks between Hamas and Egyptian officials on Saturday, after which Hamas said it would co-operate with Egypt to restore control of the border.

"We have concluded an agreement between us and our brothers in Egypt to operate channels at the local level at the crossing and along the border," said Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar.

Meanwhile Egypt arrested 15 Palestinians armed with weapons and explosives in the Sinai peninsula.

Israel has said it is concerned that militants have been taking advantage of the freedom of movement to bolster their stores of weapons and explosives.

Earlier this week, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank but not Gaza, endorsed a 2005 plan for EU and Israeli monitors to prevent cross-border smuggling.

Hamas is opposed to EU or Israeli involvement in the running of the border, but says it is flexible about its own role there.