Palestinians and Egypt have set up a joint security committee on control of the borderline between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, a senior Palestinian official said Thursday.

Jebril Rajoub, security advisor to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters that the committee would refer its recommendations on border control to a higher joint ministerial committee for further discussion.

Rajoub said Palestinian and Egyptian officials agreed at a Wednesday meeting to re-open the Rafah crossing on the border within the coming few days. The crossing was closed at 6:00 p.m. ( 1500 GMT) on Wednesday.

He said that Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei would soon head to Egypt to discuss the border issue, adding the border should be under joint control of both Palestinians and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Palestinian security forces were deployed along the border to cooperate with Egyptian police to stem Palestinians from pouring into Egypt, Palestinian sources said.

Thousands of Palestinians forced their way across the border into Egypt to visit relatives or buy cheap supplies after the Israeli army withdrew from the Gaza Strip on Monday.

The uncontrolled movement across the border has aroused Israel's concerns, and Israel urged Egypt to close the border.

Israel has struck a deal with Cairo to deploy 750 Egyptian security forces along the Gaza border to stem weapon smuggling and militant infiltration.

Source: Xinhua