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Sky News - At least 12 Egyptian soldiers have been killed and 24 wounded in a car bomb attack in Sinai, according to Sky sources.
12 Soldiers Killed In Car Bomb Attack in Egypt
Sky News - At least 12 Egyptian soldiers have been killed and 24 wounded in a car bomb attack in Sinai, according to Sky sources.
According to reports a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into one of two busses carrying off-duty soldiers between Rafah and el-Arish, the regional capital of North Sinai, where security forces are battling Islamists.
The blast was one of the deadliest attacks in the Sinai since al Qaeda-inspired militants began stepping up assaults following the army’s ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Although no group has claimed responsibility, suicide car bombings are a signature method used by militant groups linked to or inspired by al Qaeda.
Sky News’ Middle East producer Tom Rayner said: “This area has seen unrest for some time but that unrest, lawlessness and insurgency the army are trying to fight has increased in intensity since the coup against former President Morsi in July.
“What we’ve seen since then is an increase in attacks against soldiers at checkpoints in the Sinai but also in Egypt itself here have been repeated attacks on army checkpoints.
“The anger is based around the fact they are trying to control this area where there are tunnels going into Gaza. This will be a serious omen for the Egyptian army in their attempts to control insurgency in the north of the Sinai.”
The attack came after one person was killed and dozens more injured during clashes between opponents and supporters of Egypt’s military-backed regime in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Tuesday.
Police backed by armoured vehicles fired tear gas and shots to drive protesters out the square after they gathered to mark the anniversary of the 2011 demonstrations against the military which took power after Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow.
During those protests more than 40 protesters were killed during fighting with security forces which lasted several days.
During those protests more than 40 protesters were killed during fighting with security forces which lasted several days.
Tuesday’s rally was aimed against people the protesters felt had “betrayed” the revolution – Mubarak loyalists, the military council that ruled for 17 months after his fall, and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood which won subsequent elections but was ousted by the military in July.
The military handed power to Islamist president Mr Morsi in June 2012, after he won the country’s first free election, but overthrew him a year later following mass protests demanding his resignation.
Some protesters threw rocks and fireworks but left the square shortly after the security forces moved in.
Security forces have killed hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members since Mr Morsi was removed from power.
Thousands have been arrested and the group has been outlawed.
The new military-backed government of General Abdel Fatah al Sisi is pushing ahead with a transition plan aiming for new presidential and parliamentary elections early next year.
http://news.sky.com/story/1171013/egypt-12-soldiers-killed-in-car-bomb-attack
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