20110205
xinhua

EL-ARISH, Egypt, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A natural gas pipeline exploded on Saturday in El Arish in Egypt's North Sinai, after mass protests broke out in the country more than a week ago.

The blast occurred at around 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Saturday at a gas terminal, three km from the Arish airport, North Sinai governor Abdel Wahab Mabrouk told Xinhua.

The supply has been cut and will resume as early as possible, he said.

The blast was probably a sabotage, the governor said, adding that no casualties have been reported so far.

An investigation has been launched to probe the exact cause.

Arish is a major hub where Egypt exports its gas to Jordan and Israel.

Israel Radio said the Egypt-Israel pipeline was not damaged, but the supply stopped as a precaution.

The blast occurred as anti-Mubarak protests entered their 12th day. Health authorities said some 5,000 people were injured since the protests began on Jan. 25, but gave no information about the death toll.

Mubarak, who has promised not to seek re-election, said on Thursday that Egypt would fall into chaos if he quit immediately.