Egypt

Brotherhood calls on army to “return to its barracks” in reaction to Sinai attacks

The banned Muslim Brotherhood called on Egypt's armed forces to "return to its barracks" and to rehabilitate the people of Sinai on Friday, in reaction to deadly militant attacks which targeted the Sinai Peninsula.

At least 30 people were killed and 50 others were injured late Thursday in four separate attacks against security installations in the governorate.

"The Muslim Brotherhood is appalled by the forced eviction [of Sinai residents] and annihilation of cities, as well as the burning, destruction, killing and blood-spilling of Egyptians," the Brotherhood said in a statement. It called for retribution to all those killed and "holding to account the criminals" behind such deadly attacks.

Thursday's attack is the deadliest since a similar attack on the Peninsula last October. At least 30 military personnel were killed in a suicide operation which targeted a security checkpoint in Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid on October 24, 2014.

Following the October attack, Egypt's cabinet issued a decision to clear 500 metres of Sinai's border area to create a "buffer zone", vowing to provide compensation for those evicted. The area was doubled to 1,000 metres in November, 2014.

The evacuation of North Sinai residents was met with criticism by domestic and international human rights organisations.

Egypt's most active militant group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for Thursday's deadly attack, as well as last October's attack. The group changed its name to Sinai Province after pledging allegiance to Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq last November.

Armed Forces Spokesman Mohamed Samir said Thursday's attacks were due to the armed forces' recent "successful blows" against "terrorists" in Sinai. He added that the attacks were also due to "the failure of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters at spreading chaos on the fourth anniversary of the great January 2011 revolution," which was marked on Sunday.

The Brotherhood's spokesman Mohamed Montaser held "the military coup [which ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi] and its leaders" responsible for the latest Sinai attacks.

Militants have stepped up attacks targeting security forces in Sinai, as well as other parts of the country, since Mursi's military ouster in July 2013, which followed mass protests against his rule.

The government listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation in December 2013 and insists it is behind the stringent wave of militancy which has targeted security personnel since Mursi's ouster. The Brotherhood continuously denies the accusations.

This content is from :Aswat Masriya

 
 

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