Islamic group shoots minister

The Islamic terrorist group el- Gamaat el-Islamiya claimed responsibility for the shooting and wounding yesterday of Egypt's Information Minister, Safwat el- Sherif, his driver and bodyguard, writes Adel Darwish.

The attack, by two men armed with sub-machine-guns, came less than 48 hours after the appointment of a new interior minister who vowed to stamp out the group and ended the policy of allowing the Muslim Brothers to mediate between it and the government.

'I did not see who was shooting,' said Mr Sherif, whose right hand was bandaged. 'I think my bodyguard shot back at them. They shot him in the back and chest and my driver got a superficial wound in his side.'