Residents of the western cities of Salloum and Sidi Barrani blocked the highway leading to Libya in protest against new rules requiring Egyptians to apply for visas ahead of time.
According to people living in the area, the decree was announced Tuesday without warning following a five-day closure of the Salloum border crossing between Egypt and Libya. They say Egyptians must now get approval from the Libyan Embassy.
In response, demonstrating Egyptians are preventing Libyans from entering Egyptian territory and have said they will do so until visa requirements are reversed. They are also stopping vehicles loaded with goods from crossing the border.
Around 820 vehicles are currently gathered in and around the Salloum crossing awaiting entry to Libya.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
