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Deadly attack on Israel-Egypt border Deadly attack on Israel-Egypt border
(40 minutes later)
An Israeli civilian and at least one militant have been killed in an exchange of fire near the southern border with Egypt, officials said.An Israeli civilian and at least one militant have been killed in an exchange of fire near the southern border with Egypt, officials said.
The Israeli military said gunmen had attacked a convoy of construction workers building a security fence along the vast border.The Israeli military said gunmen had attacked a convoy of construction workers building a security fence along the vast border.
Two workers were injured and one later died of his wounds, Israeli media said.Two workers were injured and one later died of his wounds, Israeli media said.
It was not clear if the gunmen crossed into Israel from Egypt or via the southern Gaza Strip. Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak said it was a "disturbing deterioration".
The gunmen appeared to have crossed from Egypt's turbulent Sinai Peninsula into southern Israel.
Israeli officials said that at least three gunmen had opened fire at the convoy of vehicles and also detonated an explosive device.Israeli officials said that at least three gunmen had opened fire at the convoy of vehicles and also detonated an explosive device.
"A terrorist squad opened gunfire and possibly also fired an anti-tank rocket at an area where (Israel) is constructing the border fence," Israeli military spokesman Yoav Mordechai told army radio. "A terrorist squad opened gunfire and possibly also fired an anti-tank rocket at an area where [Israel] is constructing the border fence," Israeli military spokesman Yoav Mordechai told army radio.
"Soldiers arrived on the scene and killed one terrorist.""Soldiers arrived on the scene and killed one terrorist."
He said that those who were targeted were working on completing the border fence, adding that the area had been sealed off and troops were searching for more militants. He said that those targeted were workers completing the border fence and added that the area had been sealed off and troops were searching for more militants.
A military spokeswoman told Agence France Presse news agency that the army believed that "three or maybe four terrorists are still inside Israeli territory and we are currently trying to find them". High alert
He said that people living nearby had been woken up by the strength of the explosion. A military spokeswoman told AFP news agency the army believed "three or maybe four terrorists are still inside Israeli territory and we are currently trying to find them".
Israeli communities near the border have been put on high alert and schools have been closed, the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reported. She said people living nearby had been woken up by the size of the explosion.
The incident came just 48 hours after rockets were fired into southern Israel from the Sinai desert. The entire border area, including a major road near the coastal town of Eilat, was closed after the attack and roadblocks have been set up to try and catch the infiltrators.
Schools have also been closed and communities near the area have been put on high alert, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported.
Mr Barak described it as a "physical terror attack" on the fence work site, which came just 48 hours after rockets were fired into southern Israel from the Sinai desert.
"Only yesterday, two rockets were fired towards the southern Negev," Mr Barak said, adding that Egypt must tighten control of the area.
"We await the election results. Whoever will be elected, we expect him to take responsibility on all of Egypt's international commitments, including the peace accord with Israel and the security arrangements inside the Sinai and to swiftly put an end to these attacks," he said.