Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Sunday that opening the Rafah crossing point for the passage of 2,300 Palestinian pilgrims stranded on Egyptian territories would not be possible without a European observer, according to dpa. "In order for the Rafah border crossing point to be opened, Egyptian, European and Palestinian observers have to be present. The European observer was summoned but did not respond to us," the president told reporters. Groups of pilgrims are awaiting Egypt's approval of their return to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing. Egypt had decided earlier on Sunday to move the pilgrims stranded at the Nuweibe Egyptian port, to temporary lodging in special camps on the Rafah border until their plight has been resolved.
