Egypt's al-Sissi says attack on soldiers "will not go unanswered"

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

20.07.2014  

Cairo (dpa) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi vowed Sunday that an attack on a security checkpoint in south-western Egypt that killed 22 soldiers will "not go unanswered."

"The Presidency wishes to make absolutely clear that the heinous crime that took these brave souls and spilled their blood will not go unanswered," al-Sissi said in a statement.

"Terrorism will be uprooted from every part of Egypt," he added.

He declared three days of mourning starting Sunday.

On Saturday, 21 soldiers were killed and four wounded near the town of Farafra. The army raised the toll to 22 on Sunday.

Unidentified gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades on an ammunition depot at the checkpoint. The attackers were killed in the explosion.

Security forces defused two bomb-laden vehicles and seized weapons inside them.

The attack took place shortly before sunset, when Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, similar to a 2012 attack that killed 16 soldiers in Sinai.

The army blamed Saturday's attack on a terrorist group, while some media reports said they were smugglers. The area is close to the Libyan border.

Last month, five soldiers were killed in an attack blamed on smugglers in the same area.

Egypt has seen a series of attacks, mainly targeting security forces, since the army deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year.