Antiquities Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said on Monday 14/1/2013 that land encroachers near the Dahshur archaeological area will be removed immediately by the National Security Agency after official permission is granted.

The ministry had previously filed complaints over the land grabs with prosecutors, who subsequently ordered encroachers removed, Ibrahim said.

The complaints came after ministry workers reported that a number of armed Dahshur residents seized land in the area, which hosts five ancient pyramids, in order to build a cemetery.

Ibrahim added that the ministry will grant permission for residents to build cemeteries away from the archaeological sites.

Dahshur, south of Saqqara, Giza, hosts five pyramids belonging to King Snefru and other three Pharaohs. It also includes cemeteries from the Old and the Middle Pharaonic Kingdoms.