Egypt has declared a three-month state of emergency on the Sinai Peninsula after a suicide car bomb attack killed more than 30 soldiers.
The bombing on Friday was carried out by a suspected jihadist who rammed a checkpoint with his explosives-packed vehicle, security officials said.
The attack, in an agricultural area northwest of El Arish, the main town in north Sinai, killed 33 soldiers and left more over 25 others injured, medics said.
A senior army official and five officers were said to be among those wounded.
State-run TV said clashes between troops and militants followed the bombing, without providing further details.
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The presidency said in a statement that the emergency measures in parts of north Sinai would begin in the early hours of Saturday morning 'for a duration of three months'.
The decision was also taken to close the Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip, the only route into the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel.
'The army and the police will take all necessary measures to tackle the dangers of terrorism and its financing, to preserve the security of the region... and protect the lives of citizens,' the presidential decree said.
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Militants also shot dead an officer and wounded two soldiers on Friday at another checkpoint south of El Arish, security officials said.
Jihadists in the peninsula have killed scores of policemen and soldiers since Islamist president Mohammed Morsi was overthrown to avenge a police crackdown on his supporters.
President Abdel Fattah al Sisi, the army chief who toppled Mr Morsi and later won elections, has pledged to eradicate the militants.
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Posted by Unknown on Saturday, October 25, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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