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Egypt: Sinai Islamist leader Shadi al-Menei shot dead Egypt: Sinai Islamist leader Shadi al-Menei shot dead
(about 5 hours later)
Egyptian security officials say a key leader of a militant group has been shot dead in the Sinai peninsula.Egyptian security officials say a key leader of a militant group has been shot dead in the Sinai peninsula.
Shadi el-Menei was the purported head of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, suspected of a string of recent attacks. It is not known who shot Ansar Beit al-Maqdis commander Shadi el-Menei.
Several other members of the al-Qaeda-inspired group were said to have been killed but this has not been confirmed. But several other members of the al-Qaeda-inspired group, which is suspected of a string of recent attacks, were also reportedly killed.
The deaths of more than 200 Egyptian soldiers and officials have been blamed on Ansar Beit al-Maqdis since President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in July 2013.The deaths of more than 200 Egyptian soldiers and officials have been blamed on Ansar Beit al-Maqdis since President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in July 2013.
Who are Ansar Beit al-Maqdis?Who are Ansar Beit al-Maqdis?
Profile: Ansar Beit al-MaqdisProfile: Ansar Beit al-Maqdis
There are conflicting reports as to who carried out the assault. There are conflicting reports as to who was responsible for the killing of the militants.
AFP news agency quoted unnamed officials as saying security forces opened fire on the men as they were about to carry out an attack on a gas pipeline in central Sinai. Unnamed officials were quoted by AFP news agency as saying security forces opened fire on the men as they were about to carry out an attack on a gas pipeline in central Sinai.
A different account came from officials who told the Associated Press that Shadi el-Menei and at least three associates were killed by 15 attackers in revenge for the killings of tribesmen by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis.A different account came from officials who told the Associated Press that Shadi el-Menei and at least three associates were killed by 15 attackers in revenge for the killings of tribesmen by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis.
Islamist groups in the Sinai have stepped up their attacks against Egypt's army and police forces in the last year. Islamist groups in the Sinai have stepped up their attacks against Egypt's army and police forces in the past year.
The Egyptian army launched a major operation against militants in the Sinai but attacks have continued.The Egyptian army launched a major operation against militants in the Sinai but attacks have continued.
However, the security operation has come at a cost to authorities. A police officer died of his wounds on Friday after being shot the previous day by militants near the border with the Gaza Strip.
Last week, two army officers and five militants were said to have died in a gunfight during a raid on a warehouse linked to Islamist militants north of Cairo.Last week, two army officers and five militants were said to have died in a gunfight during a raid on a warehouse linked to Islamist militants north of Cairo.
Officials said the militants were from Ansar Beit al-Maqdis. Officials said the militants in that attack were from Ansar Beit al-Maqdis.
The US state department designated the group a "foreign terrorist organisation" earlier this year.