CAIRO: An Egyptian soldier was shot dead in the Sinai Peninsula yesterday, raising the 36-hour toll of security forces in the area to five, local sources said.
Medical and security sources said armed men had attacked a military building in Al Arish, the regional capital of North Sinai, killing the soldier.
Another soldier and three policemen had also been killed in the area in 36 hours. Security in Sinai has been deteriorating since the 2011 uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak.
Attacks have escalated since the July 3 ouster of Mubarak’s elected successor, Mohamed Mursi, with at least 20 policemen and 11 soldiers killed. Sinai is largely inhabited by Bedouins who have long had difficult relations with the central government.AFp
