Gas pipeline in Egypt's Sinai bombed

CAIRO - A gas pipeline in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula was bombed on Saturday night by gunmen for the 15th time since last February, a local security official source told Xinhua.

The bombing of the conduit, which leads to Jordan, occurred about 2 km from Arish, capital of North Sinai Governorate, sending raging blazes to at least 15 meters high, the official said.

No casualties were reported so far in the explosion, the source told Xinhua, adding that local security forces hurried to the place to monitor the situation and firefighters were still trying to extinguish the fire.

According to eyewitnesses, a group of masked gunmen driving cars bombed the pipeline, using the same techniques as in previous attacks.

So far there is no group claiming responsibility.

Egypt carried out an experimental pumping to Israel and Jordan in February after a disruption caused by several attacks on the pipeline, official media reported.

Prior to the repeated explosions of the pipeline, Egypt provided 80 percent of Jordan's natural gas for power and about 40 percent of that of Israel for the same purpose.