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Egypt says will retain administration of Red Sea islands after Saudi transfer

By

Mahmoud Mourad | Sun Jun 11, 2017 | Reuters

An aerial view of the coast of the Red Sea and the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir is pictured through the window of an airplane near Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt November 1, 2016. Picture taken November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
An aerial view of the coast of the Red Sea and the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir is pictured through the window of an airplane near Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt November 1, 2016. Picture taken November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egypt will maintain administrative control over two Red Sea islands it is looking to transfer to Saudi Arabia, according to a government report advising parliament on the terms of the agreement.

Parliament on Sunday began discussions of the controversial transfer of the two islands, Tiran and Sanafir, to Saudi Arabia. The accord has been the subject of an ongoing court dispute and has led to rare street protests.