In Dahab, residents of the town rocked by three bombs tell Jailan Halawi of their determination to see life in their corner of paradise return back to normal as quickly as possible Yesterday afternoon, as the Red Sea resort of Dahab, north of Sharm El-Sheikh, was coming to terms with the triple explosions that devastated its promenade on 24 April, two more bombings shook the peninsula. Both attacks -- seemingly the work of suicide bombers -- took place near the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) camp at Goura, about 35km from the Mediterranean city of Al-Arish. The first bomber blew himself up as members of the MFO were passing in a car while the second attacker, on a motorcycle, died as he tried to intercept a passing police vehicle. The two attacks happened within 45 minutes of one another and there were no casualties apart from the bombers. The attacks have heightened the tensions that followed the triple bombing that rocked Dahab, the onetime Bedouin fishing village that has developed into a popular Red Sea resort famous for its laid back atmosphere. The three bombs, detonated within a minute of each other early Monday evening, were the third terrorist attack in Sinai within 18 months. Like the previous two attacks, the bombers had chosen to strike during a national holiday. The first bomb exploded outside the Al Capone restaurant, one of Dahab's most popular beachfront night spots. The second explosion occurred outside the Ghazala supermarket while the third bomb was detonated close to a footbridge popular with evening strollers. While the Ministry of Interior now says 18 people -- 14 Egyptians, one Russian, one Swiss, a German boy and a Lebanese -- were killed and 85, mostly foreigners, injured, downgrading its initial estimate of 24 deaths, local residents say the death toll is higher. The impact of the bombings on tourism in the town is likely to be devastating, at least in the short term. Mohamed Amin, a receptionist at the beachfront Ali Baba Hotel, who was sitting at the front desk when the force of an explosion rocked him from his chair, says that "with the exception of one room booked by journalists here to cover the explosions, all the other reservations have been cancelled though this is our high season and we were booked till mid- June." Security was immediately tightened following the attacks, with extra forces manning checkpoints around the resort. According to early reports, official investigators suspect the bombs were the work of three Bedouins from northern Sinai who died in the explosions. The police also arrested three men at a checkpoint who are thought to have left Dahab shortly after the bombings and who have been referred to state security prosecutors for questioning. And additional 10 people have also been detained for questioning, according to reports. Immediately following the blasts, President Hosni Mubarak described them as "heinous, sinful acts of terrorism". Though the explosions occurred a day after the broadcast of a tape in which Osama Bin Laden called on Muslims to support Al-Qaeda in what he described as "a war against Islam", Egyptian officials say the Sinai bombings were the work of locals without international links. Some analysts believe the bombers represent a new wave of terrorists, drawing their support from young Bedouins, and that the security forces will have to develop new strategies to contain the phenomenon. The day following the bombings, the residents of Dahab were joined by tourists in a peaceful rally condemning the outrage. "Come have tea with us," said an American woman in her late 20s. "I live and work in Cairo but I am a regular visitor and, along with many others, felt so disturbed by the blasts I decided to take part in encouraging people to come and sit in one of the restaurants hit by the blasts, just to show that it is safe." Metres away from the Masbat checkpoint, scene of the second blast, a sign hung on the door of a shop announced it was open. The shop is owned by an American woman who fell in love with a place she described as "the last wild, wild west" 20 years ago. "No one is going to frighten us away. Dahab is our paradise and we are determined to stay," she told Al-Ahram Weekly. British national Victoria Richard, another expatriate Dahabian, says it was the simplicity of the place, which did not receive television broadcasts until two years ago, that first attracted her. "I am not leaving here," she said, adding that such attacks on a "very peaceful retreat only strengthen my attachment to a place I cherish." Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has said it will go ahead with plans to hold a meeting of Middle Eastern government and business leaders in Sharm El-Sheikh between 20-22 May. "For the sake of a more peaceful future for humankind we have to show our solidarity by holding this meeting," said WEF head Klaus Shwab in a letter to President Mubarak. President Mubarak announced that families of the deceased would receive compensation of LE60,000, while compensation for the injured would be determined by the severity of their injuries. Mubarak also ordered that a committee be established immediately in order to assess compensation payments to the owners of shops and other business. In the wake of the bombings there have been several calls that the ministers of interior and justice be replaced. Such calls have yet to meet an official response.
