Demands for Egypt to compensate Mexican victims

  • 18/09/2015
(Reuters)
(Reuters)

Mexico's government has demanded Egypt compensate tourists mistakenly attacked by Egyptian security forces in a deadly incident that outraged the Latin American nation.

The demand was made in a diplomatic note to Egypt's ambassador to Mexico on Thursday (local time), as survivors and families of victims were flying home with Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu.

"The Mexican government demands the necessary guarantees so that the victims of the tragic and regrettable attack perpetrated on September 13, all of them innocent civilians and their families, receive full reparations for the damage, including compensation," the foreign ministry said in a statement, without providing a figure.

Eight Mexican tourists and four Egyptians were killed in Sunday's attack in the Western Desert, while 10 others were wounded, including six Mexicans.

Survivors have told Mexican diplomats that they came under fire from a plane and helicopters.

Egypt says the tourists had entered a restricted area and were "mistakenly" killed as security forces chased jihadists who had abducted and beheaded an Egyptian.

But the head of Egypt's tour guides union said the group had received all the required permits and were accompanied by police escort.

President Enrique Pena Nieto dispatched Ruiz Massieu to Cairo this week to press for a full investigation

The minister and survivors are due home on Friday.

AFP