RAFAH: An Egyptian security official says border guards shot and killed two African migrants trying to cross the border into Israel near the town of Rafah.

Many Africans seeking political asylum and jobs try to cross into Israel with the help of Bedouin traffickers. Egypt has killed dozens of migrants at the border in the past two years, drawing criticism from rights groups.

The official says the two migrants refused to surrender after the guards spotted them and fired warning shots into the air early on Thursday. One of the migrants was identified as a Somali. The nationality of the other was not known.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media. -AP