Egypt gas pipeline attacked

Unknown attackers have blown up a pipeline that runs through El-Arish area in northern Sinai region of Egypt and supplies gas to Jordan and Israel, according to the present state of Egyptian television.

The Jordanian route that runs from El-Arish to Aqaba to Amman and then damaged by an explosion Saturday.

But it has been reported that the pipeline running to Ashkelon in Israel is not affected.

The explosive material was placed in or adjacent to the checkpoint of the gas supply. There were no immediate reports of casualties as a result of the explosion.

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

State television quoted an official as saying that "the situation is very dangerous and explosions were continued from one place to another" along the pipeline.

"It's a major terrorist operation," a state television reporter said.

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

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

"The armed forces and the authorities have managed the main source of power to close and try to fight the fires," said the source.

Governor of the Sinai has confirmed to Al Jazeera that the fire caused by the explosion of the gas is controlled and that infrastructiure the gas terminal is not seriously damaged.

Al Jazeera's corrspondent reported from Egypt, that "we do not know who is behind the explosion, no group has claimed responsibility."

According to Al Jazeera's sources, eyewitnesses interviewed by the authorities and the research focuses on some Bedouin tribes of northern Sinai.

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

"They do not have the wealth that the state generates from the Sinai Peninsula to enjoy the money has not benefited from the communities there," our correspondent added.

Anti-government protests in Egypt, now in its 12th day and despite the protesters' demands that President Hosni Mubarak should immediately leave office, he says that if he indeed steps than across the country will descend into chaos, growing concerns about the safety.

"The issue of safety is often used in Egyptian politics, but many Egyptians say that tensions in Egypt because of the government.

"Bedouins, arms and drug trafficking are some of the internal issues that the central government in Cairo has failed to address," said our correspondent.

Gas supplies from Egypt account for 40 percent of Israel's gas imports.

And although the supply of gas towards Israel is not affected by this explosion, it still remains the Israeli authorities and the events unfolding in Egypt over the past few days.

Al Jazeera correspondent Tony Birtley reported from Jerusalem that "Israelis are very nervous for the last 10 days, if a government comes to power in Egypt, which is not sympathetic to Israel than there will be security issues for Israel.

"Israel has to realize that their good friend (Mubarak) is on his way out, and they are not sure who's on the way in."

Our correspondent, Nisreen El-Shamayleh, reported from Amman, the Jordanian Ministry of Energy officials in contact with the Egyptian government to find out if gas pipelines to Jordan hit.

The Ministry will not release any details until an official response has been received from Egypt.

A former official of the Jordanian government said fired Al Jazeera that "this is what we were afraid (relating to unrest in Egypt, Jordan influence).

"Gas prices will go up now, after the Jordanian government announced its commitment to the burden of any increases in fuel derivatives until March to help reduce the economic hardships after massive protests," said the former official.