ARISH
An Egyptian civilian and a policeman were killed in two separate attacks late Thursday in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
Ahmed Salama, 33, was shot at a security checkpoint in Al-Goura village on the southern outskirts of the city of Sheikh Zuweid after refusing to stop, eyewitnesses said.
A policeman also died of wounds sustained in an attack by unidentified gunmen one day earlier.
The latest casualties bring to 21 the number of Egyptians killed in militant attacks in the peninsula since July 5.
Sinai has seen an increasing number of militant attacks on security troops and facilities since the ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi by the army on July 3.
The Egyptian army this week launched a major offensive in Sinai aimed at hunting down militants believed to have carried out attacks against army and security facilities.
