Gaza border crossing to reopen

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - The Associated Press

Egyptian and Palestinian officials say the main border crossing in the Gaza Strip will be reopened to passenger traffic on Wednesday.

Egypt closed the Rafah crossing five days ago in the wake of the military's ouster of President Mohammed Morsi. Egypt has also taken other security measures in the northern Sinai Peninsula near Gaza, fearing militants could try to exploit the unrest.

Rafah is the main passage for people going in and out of Gaza. The closure has stranded thousands of travelers on both sides of the border just ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Both Maj. Gen. Sami Mitwalli, who is in charge of the border on the Egyptian side, and Ghazi Hamad, an official with Gaza's Hamas government, confirmed the plans to open the crossing Wednesday.