BERLIN: Germany says it has sent a team of six experts to Egypt to assess how to help beef up security on the country s border with the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says the experts from his ministry and the Interior Ministry left for Cairo Monday evening.

He says that effectively fighting weapons smuggling is one of the key questions for a lasting truce and the opening of the borders.

German officials have stressed that Berlin s aim is to support Egypt in controlling its own borders and that it will not undermine Cairo s control of the frontier. They say it could offer technical equipment and advice.

The German mission is part of European efforts to help curb weapons smuggling into Gaza. -AP