More than 600 tourists have been trapped near Egypt's southern city of Aswan as locals angry over a land dispute, blocked the main highway leading back to the city today.
Security sources said the tourists visiting the Abu Simbel temple are now staying at hotels in Abu Simbel town because security forces have failed to persuade the locals to clear the blockade, Ahram Online reported.
The incident occurred because of a dispute between two local families over a piece of state land, which led to violence in which one person was injured.
The family of the injured man then blocked the highway.
46 buses carrying a total of 630 tourists from different nationalities, were prevented from leaving Abu Simbel because of the incident.
The governor of Aswan said if the issue is not resolved the tourists shall be hosted in other hotels which are currently accessible to them where they are.
Tourism is a major source of revenue for Egypt which is home to the Pyramids of Giza and the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
