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Wave Of Attacks Kill 70 Soldiers In Egypt

Wave Of Attacks Kill 70 Soldiers In Egypt

Islamist militants have killed at least 70 people in a series of coordinated attacks on several military checkpoints in Egypt's North Sinai.

Security sources say 15 died when a car bomb exploded at a military post in North Sinai, one of five targeted along with a police station.

Witnesses reported also hearing blasts in Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, with many residents fleeing their homes over fears of grenades.

Egypt's army said the checkpoints were attacked by about 70 militants and a battle continued for more than eight hours.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the militants took soldiers captive and seized several armoured vehicles.

Islamic State's Egyptian affiliate, Sinai Province, has claimed responsibility.

The Sinai-based insurgency has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the Egyptian army toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi after mass protests against his rule in 2013.

Earlier this week, Egypt's top public prosecutor was assassinated in a car bomb attack on his convoy in Cairo, raising questions about the country's ability to contain the insurgency.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, previously the nation's army chief, led moves to oust Mr Morsi and went on to win election in a landslide victory.

The latest attacks came a day after Mr el-Sisi vowed justice would be served over the prosecutor general's assassination - and possibly move to execute Muslim Brotherhood leaders, the Islamist group from which Mr Morsi hails.

The comments seemed to signal an even tougher campaign against the Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest Islamist group that is now outlawed and declared a terrorist organisation.

Since Mr Morsi was ousted a crackdown has seen thousands of arrests, mass convictions and death sentences. Mr Morsi is among those condemned to die, but has a potentially lengthy appeal process ahead of him.

In a thinly veiled reference to jailed members of the Brotherhood, Mr el-Sisi blamed the violence on those "issuing orders from behind bars," and warned: "If there is a death sentence, it will be carried out."