Egypt troops in Sinai sweep mistakenly hit funeral

{{Egyptian troops and police mistakenly fired on a Bedouin funeral in the Sinai Peninsula on Tuesday, security officials said, in the opening salvo of a sweep searching for security personnel kidnapped by suspected militants.}}

The incident illustrated the hazards of the military operations prompted by the kidnapping last week.

A heavy handed attempt to free the captives risks bringing a backlash in Sinai, where resentments among the local population against past security crackdowns have fueled the rise of militancy in the volatile peninsula bordering Gaza and Israel.

Faced with anger among the public and within the security forces over the kidnappings, President Mohammed Morsi has said all options are on the table for securing the release of the seven captives and that the presidency is not negotiating with the kidnappers.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim said the zero hour for an operation against the kidnappers has not yet been decided particularly since they are well armed, with anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles.

{wirestory}