(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Egypt extended a state of emergency in parts of the Sinai Peninsula for three months, as a roadside bomb wounded 18 policemen yesterday in the insurgency-wracked region, security officials said.
The attack happened near El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province where the army is battling Islamic State group loyalists, according to the officials, who said the policemen were on leave.
Health Ministry official Tarek Khater said the wounded were in stable condition in a military hospital in the city.
Egyptian security forces have come under frequent attack in North Sinai since the military toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in 2013.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said late Saturday that the extension of the state of emergency for a third time was necessary because of the "dangerous security situation".
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