Cairo Airport Closes Amid Sandstorms
Associated Press
CAIRO, Egypt — Sandstorms and strong winds forced the airport here to shut down for 9 1/2 hours Friday, diverting international flights to other cities.
About 800 passengers were reported stranded in the southern cities of Luxor and Aswan after heir flights were diverted from Cairo because of poor visibility. President Hosni Mubarak, heading home after a visit to Athens, was forced to land in Rome.
The airport reopened late in the afternoon after 32 planes were sent to other cities, according to the official Middle East News Agency.
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