Palestinians from the Gaza Strip used trucks, taxis and private cars on Saturday to travel to Egypt through a breached border wall for a fourth straight day.

Thousands were streaming into the country to buy supplies to cope with an economic blockade by Israel, a day after a bulldozer was used to clear metal and concrete to make the opening easier for vehicles to cross.

Egyptian troops kept their distance after making a failed attempt to reseal the border on Friday using human chains, dogs and water cannons.

Soldiers have set up roadblocks to keep Palestinians in border towns and prevent them from driving farther into the country.

For the first time since the security breach, the flow of traffic also headed in the opposite direction and several Egyptians walked along the streets of Gaza City.

"I'm here to see how the Palestinians are living," one man told CBC News. "I'm surprised to see the harsh situation."

Close to 40 security personnel have been injured in clashes with Palestinians since Hamas militants blew up part of the wall, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.

There were reports of Hamas gunmen firing their weapons at Egyptian police and border guards.

On Friday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said his country would be willing to mediate between rivals Hamas and Fatah to end the political stalemate that began in June last year when Hamas took over the territory.

But Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech Saturday from the presidential headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah that he would talk to rival Hamas leaders only if they give up control of Gaza. He called the takeover of Gaza a "crime."

He also called on militants to stop firing rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

"Do not give them an excuse and do not show the world that [the Israelis] are the victims," he said.