i'm reverting to ancient egypt tonight

[click image]

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I have my doctoral work to catch up on, you know.

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Momentary slip back into modern Egypt:

Unknown attackers have blown up a pipeline that runs through El-Arish area of Egypt's north Sinai area and supplies gas to Israel via Jordan, according to Egypt's state television reports.

It was not immediately clear what impact Saturday's blast had on gas flows. There were no immediate reports of any casualties as a result of the blast.

"Saboteurs took advantage of the security situation and blew up the gas pipeline," a state television correspondent reported, saying there was a big explosion.

State TV quoted an official as saying that the "situation is very dangerous and explosions were continuing from one spot to another" along the pipeline.

"It is a big terrorist operation", a state TV reporter said.

Residents in the area also reported a huge explosion and said flames were raging in the area.

According to a security source, the Egyptian army closed the main source of the gas supply to the pipeline.

"The armed forces and the authorities managed to close the main the source of flow and are trying to control the fires," the source said.

Israel's national infrastructure ministry said that it was looking into the incident. Israel imports 40 per cent of its natural gas from Egypt, in a deal built on their 1979 peace accord.

Al Jazeera's corrspondent, Ayman Mohyeldin reported from Egypt that, "We do not know yet who was behind the explosion as no group has claimed responsibility.

"The strategic Egypt-Israel relationship comes under very intense scrutiny here in Egypt because of the perception that very few people benefit from it.

"And many Egyptians believe that it benefits Israel more than it benefits Egyptians."

According to Al Jazeera's sources, eye witnesses are being interviewed by authorities and the investigation is focusing on some bedouin tribes of Northern Sinai.

Bedouin tribesmen of the Sinai Peninsula attempted to blow up the pipeline last July as tensions intensified between them and the Egyptian government, which they accuse of discrimination and of ignoring their plight.

"They do not enjoy the wealth that the state generates from the Sinai peninsula, the money has not benefitted the communities there," our correspondent added.

It's really pretty. Hope we get some good still images coming over the wires.

Al Jazeera had an Israeli analyst on to talk about it. The guy kept whining about what a good friend Mubarak has been, how insecure everyone in Israel is feeling, and how they need help. I think maybe they've freaked out the space aliens who'd come down to get them so badly that they turned tail and shot back to Betelgeuse without them....

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Extra credit: in case of insomnia....

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love, 99
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