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Egypt, Libya Discuss Cooperation to Fight Terrorism, Human Trafficking

Egyptian and Libyan officials held talks this week to strengthen cooperation in combatting crime, corruption and human trafficking. (Egyptian general prosecution)
Egyptian and Libyan officials held talks this week to strengthen cooperation in combatting crime, corruption and human trafficking. (Egyptian general prosecution)
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Egypt, Libya Discuss Cooperation to Fight Terrorism, Human Trafficking

Egyptian and Libyan officials held talks this week to strengthen cooperation in combatting crime, corruption and human trafficking. (Egyptian general prosecution)
Egyptian and Libyan officials held talks this week to strengthen cooperation in combatting crime, corruption and human trafficking. (Egyptian general prosecution)

Egyptian and Libyan officials held talks this week to strengthen cooperation in combatting crime, corruption and human trafficking.

The discussions were part of recommendations presented by the joint Libyan-Egyptian consular committee for resuming judicial cooperation between both countries.

Libyan Attorney General Al Sidiq Al Sour and his Egyptian counterpart Hamada Al Sawy signed in Cairo a memorandum of understanding to bolster cooperation in combating all forms of crimes, especially terrorism, corruption, human trafficking and cybercrimes.

Sawy ordered the preparation of proposals to Libyan officials over the exchange of technical and scientific expertise between the two neighbors.

For his part, Al Sour said both countries are united through history, geography and deep-rooted ties. He stressed the need to put in place “new mechanisms and patterns” to ensure close cooperation between the two prosecutions, and preserve evidence and confidentiality in investigations.

He cited the memorandum signed by the two sides as an example of how constant cooperation can be maintained.

Al Sawy and Al Srour then toured the Institute of Criminal Research and Training in Cairo.

In May, the joint Libyan-Egyptian consular committee held its 13th session in Cairo following an eight-year-halt. It discussed several common themes, including judicial cooperation, boosting cooperation in the areas of transport and customs, and facilitating the movement of people and goods between their countries.

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Four Bodies, Four Survivors Recovered from Egypt Red Sea Sinking, Says Governor

Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)
Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)
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Four Bodies, Four Survivors Recovered from Egypt Red Sea Sinking, Says Governor

Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)
Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)

Rescuers on Tuesday recovered four bodies and four survivors a day after a diving boat capsized off Egypt's eastern coast, Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi said, with eight people still missing.

Among the survivors were two Belgians, one Swiss national and one Egyptian, the governor said, bringing the total number of survivors from the vessel to 32. The four dead have not yet been identified and eight people remain missing.

"Rescue operations are ongoing today, supported by a military helicopter and a frigate in addition to multiple divers," Hanafi told AFP.

The vessel was carrying 31 tourists of multiple nationalities and a 13-member crew when it was hit by a large wave early on Monday, leading it to capsize near Marsa Alam in southeastern Egypt. The "Sea Story" had embarked on a multi-day diving trip on Sunday and had been due to dock on Friday at the town of Hurghada, 200 kilometres (124 miles) north.

The governor on Monday said the boat had sunk within 5-7 minutes of its impact with the wave, leaving some passengers -- among them European, Chinese and American tourists -- unable to escape their cabins in time.

- Survivors -

Rescuers from the military and a passing tourist boat had pulled 28 people from the waters on Monday. According to a source at a hospital in Marsa Alam, six tourists and three Egyptians were admitted with minor injuries and discharged on Monday.

The tourists included "two Germans, two Britons, one Spaniard and one Swiss national," the hospital administrator told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

According to the governor's office, the boat was carrying tourists from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.

Among the missing are two Polish and two Finnish tourists, according to both countries' foreign ministries.

Authorities have said the vessel was fully licensed and had passed all its inspection checks. A preliminary investigation showed no technical fault.

The Marsa Alam area experienced at least two similar boat accidents earlier this year but there were no fatalities. The Red Sea coast is a major tourist destination in Egypt, a country of 107 million that is in the grip of a serious economic crisis.

Nationally, the tourism sector employs two million people and generates more than 10 percent of its GDP.

Dozens of dive boats crisscross between Red Sea coral reefs and islands off Egypt's eastern coast every day, where safety regulations are robust but unevenly enforced.

Earlier this month, 30 people were rescued from a sinking dive boat near the Red Sea's Daedalus reef. In June, two dozen French tourists were evacuated safely before their boat sank in a similar accident.

Last year, three British tourists died when a fire broke out on their yacht.