Militants in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, which borders Israel, killed a police officer in the early hours of Thursday, Egypt's military spokesman said hours after state-owned news agency MENA reported another officer shot dead near his home. Unidentified gunmen killed the junior police officer while on guard in the northern city of Al-Arish and stole his weapon, army spokesman Colonel Ahmed Ali said Thursday afternoon. Fleeing assailants later attacked an army checkpoint near the provincial governor's office, injuring one solider. An exchange of fire ensued between troops and the assailants, leaving three of the assailants dead, Ali added. Security forces have siezed arms from the assailnts' vehicle, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and machineguns. The restive peninsula has seen a spike in militant insurgency since the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi 3 July following massive protests against his rule. Elsewhere in the Al-Arish, a low-ranking police officer was shot and killed in front of his home, and militants and security forces separately exchanged fire in the southern El-Masaeed area. Dozens of militants have been killed since in the army launched its largest campaign yet in the region to flush out "terrorists" and seize or destroy arms caches. Attacks on security and army targets in the region have killed upwards of 100 security personnel since July. Source : Ahram
