Man dies in Gaza crossing chaos

An elderly Palestinian died and several people were injured when police lost control of a crowd on the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

At least three people were shot as police opened fire to drive back crowds pushing towards the crossing.

It was not immediately clear if the man was crushed or had a heart attack.

Israel has allowed the crossing, Gaza's only route to the world bypassing Israel, to be open only intermittently since it withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

The irregular opening of the crossing - the only way for most Gazans to leave the Strip - means that large crowds usually arrive at the crossing when there is a chance it may open.

European Union monitors say the crossing has been opened only for 20% of the time since last summer, due to Israeli warnings about security threats.

'Fire fight'

Witnesses quoted by AP news agency said the crowd which gathered un Thursday quickly became chaotic.

Thousands of Gazans mass at the crossing when it opens

The elderly man who died had been on his way to a medical check-up in Egypt died, medics are quoted saying.

Another unconfirmed report said Palestinian security units shot at each other - and two gunshot injuries were received by members of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's bodyguard.

The reason for the fire fight was not immediately clear, witnesses quoted by Reuters news agency said.

A spokesman for European Union officials who monitor the crossing said they had suspended operations until order was restored.

The Rafah border crossing began operating in November 2005 under Palestinian control with EU monitors.