Cairo - Egyptian police killed an unidentified African migrant attempting to enter Israel illegally, security sources said Friday.

Egyptian police also arrested another two men attempting to cross the border at Rafah.

The two men named Ali Combo, 29, from Somalia and Idris Youssef, 25, from Congo planned to work in Israel.

Most African migrants in Egypt seek asylum or work in Israel.

It was reported that the two detainees paid 5,000 dollars to an illegal people-trafficking organization.

Since of the beginning of 2008, Egyptian police have arrested some 480 illegal immigrants. The largest group, with 210 migrants arrested, were Eritrean.

Coming second are Sudanese migrants with 121 arrested since the beginning of the year.

Some 36 women and seven children have also been detained.

The Rafah border crossing is on the 250-kilometre Egyptian-Israeli frontier. (dpa)