TEL AVIV, Israel -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Thursday expressed "deep regret" the killing of three Egyptian policemen by Israeli tank fire.
Sharon phoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, said the shooting was a mistake, and the army was investigating the incident and will provide the Egyptians with its findings. The prime minister's office said Mubarak accepted the apology and said he realized the shooting was a mistake.
The incident happened at 1:30 a.m. at the Philadelphi Route that separates Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The acting commander of the division operating there, Col. David Menahem, told Israel Radio soldiers spotted a group of Palestinian militants planting charges, alerted troops, and when they were sure the squad was on the Israeli side, opened fire.
They saw the militants flee to nearby Rafah and the Egyptians said three of their policemen who approached the international border were killed.
Egypt recently beefed up its presence along the border with the Gaza Strip, at Israel's request, to prevent arms smuggling.
