Security forces in Egypt have mistakenly killed 12 people, including Mexican tourists, during an anti-terror operation, the interior ministry says.
The tourists were travelling in four vehicles that entered a restricted zone in the Wahat area of the Western Desert, a ministry statement said.
Ten Mexicans and Egyptians were also injured and are being treated in a local hospital.
The ministry said it had formed a team to investigate the incident.
Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto condemned the incident and said he had "demanded an exhaustive investigation by the Egyptian government".
The Mexican foreign ministry confirmed that at least two of its national had been killed and said it was working to confirm the identities of the other victims. In a statement, it said Mexico's ambassador in Egypt, Jorge Alvarez Fuentes, had visited the local hospital and spoken to five Mexicans who were in a stable condition.
The statement (in Arabic) from Egypt's interior ministry said the four vehicles the tourists were travelling in were "mistakenly dealt with" during a joint military police and armed forces operation. It said the incident happened on Sunday in an area that "was off limits to foreign tourists" but it did not give an exact location.
The vast Western Desert area is popular with foreign sightseers, but is also attractive to militants. The region is a gateway to the long border with Libya and the weapons available on the other side. |