Several Dead in Egypt Blasts

Three explosions rocked the Egyptian resort city of Dahab tonight, killing at least 17 people and wounding more than 150 at just one hotel.

Dr Said Essa, who runs Egypt's Sinai peninsula rescue squad, said casualties were at the el-Khaleeg hotel. He said there were more victims at the scene of the other blasts, but he had no details.

Witnesses described seeing body parts and debris in the streets after an explosion in a tourist restraint.

Police officials said more than 20 ambulances and police cars were rushing to the el-Masbat section of the city.

An interior ministry official confirmed there had been explosions but said he had no further information.

"There were explosions but the picture is still not clear," he told Reuters.

There have been a string of attacks in Egypt's Sinai peninsula over 18 months, including deadly bombings in the Egyptian resorts of Taba and Ras Shitan in October 2004 and in Sharm el-Sheik in July 2005.

Groups claiming links to al-Qaida took responsibility for those attacks, and Egyptian authorities say new Islamic militant groups have arisen in the peninsula - but they are still trying to determine if they have any real connection to al-Qaida or other international terrorist groups.

This is high tourist season in the region, and hotels all along the Egyptian coasts could be expected to be at near capacity.