Egypt: Briton Sentenced To Death Over Drugs

A British sailor and four other foreigners have been sentenced to death for drug smuggling in Egypt, a court official says.

A court in the Red Sea province said the defendants were "an international gang" that tried to smuggle three tons of hashish into Egypt via its southeastern coast, according to an official.

In addition to death sentences, the court imposed a fine of 85m Egyptian pounds (£8m), according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Those convicted are the British man, a Pakistani and three people from Seychelles.

The defendants are all sailors who were arrested aboard a ship near the Red Sea coastal town of Marsa Alam.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "The British Government is extremely concerned at the death sentence passed down to a British national on April 7, and confirmed on June 3.

"We are opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances.

"Our consular team in Cairo are in contact with the British prisoner and we will do our utmost to prevent this execution."

A source said an official from the British Embassy in Egypt was in court.