Egypt: three killed in clashes with Islamists

Two Islamists and one Egyptian policeman were killed on Wednesday in Upper Egypt. Another policeman and one civilian were wounded in a separate incident elsewhere.

Early Wednesday two officials in the banned "Islamic Group" organization were killed upon exchanging gunfire with policemen near Manhari village in al-Minya province, 250 km south of Cairo. A statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior said that the police received information in that three terrorists of the most dangerous cadres of the military wing of the "Islamic Group" organization had disappeared and were planning to attack a police on-foot patrol in the region.

The statement added the police besieged the area and exchanged fire with the group for more than hour. The statements continued added that the clashes resulted in the death of Hamzah Abdul Hamid Abdul Mu'z Younis, who had participated in 20 terrorist attacks. It added that Yahya Ali Sadiq, involved in 21 terrorist act since 1993, was also killed.