* Israeli officials fret over heavy armour in Sinai
* Mursi says Sinai campaign not a threat to other states
* Sinai lawlessness gives militants a foothold
By Marwa Awad
CAIRO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Egypt's military said on Wednesday it would
broaden its offensive against militants in the Sinai Peninsula, a campaign
that has raised concerns in Israel about the movement of heavy armour into
the area near its border.
After militants attacked and killed 16 border guards on Aug. 5, Egypt
launched an operation using the army and police to raid militant hideouts,
arrest suspects and seize weapons, including rockets and other arms, that
are rife in the area.
Disorder has spread in Sinai since former President Hosni Mubarak's
overthrow last year. Analysts say Islamists with possible links to al Qaeda
have gained a foothold. This has alarmed Israel.
Israeli officials have privately voiced concerns about heavy equipment being
sent to areas where there are restrictions on weapon deployments under a
1979 peace treaty.
Egypt has sent hundreds of troops, along with tanks, armoured vehicles and
helicopters into the North Sinai region since the start of military
operations there on Aug.8.
Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi told Reuters on Monday in his first
interview with international media that Egypt was committed to all treaties
and, without naming Israel, said no other states should worry about its
actions in Sinai.
"As of the morning of Aug. 29, in continuation of the military operation,
there will be a redeployment of forces in various locations in Sinai to
complete the hunt for terrorist elements," the Defence Ministry said in a
statement.
A military source told Reuters this would involve spreading security forces
over a wider area to root out militants.
The campaign is led by the defence minister and head of the armed forces,
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, appointed by Mursi in a shake-up of the
military top brass on Aug. 12. The Islamist president has promised to
restore order.
Sisi briefed Mursi on the Sinai operation on Monday.
The ministry statement on its website said 11 militants had been killed and
23 arrested in the campaign. It said 11 vehicles had been seized, along with
ammunition, including five boxes of Israeli-made ammunition, but did not
give details.
WEAPONS SMUGGLING
The 1979 peace treaty limits the military presence in the desert peninsula
though in recent years Israel has agreed to allow Egypt to deploy more
forces there to stem weapons smuggling by Palestinian gunmen and crime.
An Egyptian security source said on Wednesday tanks were being withdrawn
from the border area in a move that could calm Israel's concerns. Three
other security sources confirmed this and said the tanks were being moved to
another part of Sinai, without giving further details.
No one had yet claimed responsibility for the killing of the border guards.
But a Sinai-based Islamist militant organisation, the Salafi Jihadi Group -
which denies any involvement in the attack - warned the Egyptian army last
week that the crackdown would force it to fight back.
Leaders of the Cairo-based Jihad Group, which fought against Mubarak but has
since renounced violence, met earlier in the week in Sinai with members of
the Salafi Jihadi Group in an attempt to defuse tensions.
"We went to prevent a new rivalry with the state," said Magdy Salem, a
member of the Cairo group. He said the visit was approved by Mursi.
The unrest has occurred mainly in North Sinai, where many people have guns
and where Bedouin tribes have long complained of neglect by central
government. They say they have seen no benefits from the expanding Sinai
tourist resorts.
Mubarak's military-backed government worked closely with Israel to keep the
region under control. Diplomats say security contacts continued after
Mubarak's fall. But Egyptian security sources said Israel should not expect
day-to-day reports.
C Thomson Reuters 2012 All rights reserved
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Received on Wed Aug 29 2012 - 16:35:35 EDT
