Egypt agrees to transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

Cairo: A second Egyptian Parliament committee has approved a 2016 agreement to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, hours after clashes between police and opponents of the deal in downtown Cairo.Members of the defense and national security committee say they have approved the pact in a closed meeting on Wednesday, paving the way for the document to be ratified by the full house, a virtual foregone conclusion given that the 596-seat chamber is packed with government supporters.[caption id="attachment_3451560" align="alignleft" width="380"]

Representational image[/caption]Another committee approved the deal on Tuesday.When the agreement came to light last year it sparked the biggest protests of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's rule. Eight people arrested during the clashes late Tuesday remained in custody.Meanwhile, the government maintains the islands have always been Saudi. Critics say their transfer amounts to treason.