CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt decided early Saturday to recall its ambassador from Israel to protest the deaths of policemen killed on the border, in the first diplomatic spat between the two nations since the fall of the Mubarak regime. Cairo also demanded a formal apology from Israel and a probe to determine the circumstances of the deadly shootings which happened during retaliatory attacks on Palestinian fighters following the killings of eight Israelis. Egypt has decided to withdraw its ambassador to Israel until there is an official apology, state television reported. The Egyptian government asked for an official apology from Israel at the end of a crisis meeting overnight, the state-run MENA news agency added. Information Minister Osama Heykal was quoted as saying by MENA that five policemen were killed inside Egyptian territory as a result of an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and armed elements inside Israeli territory. There had been conflicting reports of the deaths. Security forces told AFP that five policemen, including an officer, were killed at the border on Thursday during an Israeli pursuit of militants who killed eight Israelis. The military initially told MENA on Thursday that two policemen were killed when an Israeli aircraft opened fire on the fleeing militants, catching the policemen in the line of fire. But military and security officials later said the policemen were killed in a clash with gunmen as they tried to enter Egypt. Meanwhile, Israeli diplomatic officials are holding discussions on Egypts decision to recall its ambassador from Israel, the Israel foreign ministry spokesman told AFP on Saturday. There was such an Egyptian announcement and we are holding discussions based on what has transpired, spokesman Yigal Palmor said. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will investigate the matter thoroughly and update the Egyptians, a spokesman told AFP on Friday.