Egypt extends state of emergency in Sinai by N. 3 months

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi extended by three months the state of emergency imposed in parts of the restive northern Sinai, MENA news agency run by the state reported Wednesday.
The decree also imposes a nighttime curfew in certain regions 19:00 (1700 GMT) and 6:00 (0400 GMT), except for the city Arish, where the curfew will start at 01:00 until 05:00.
According to the decree, the military and police must take all necessary measures to deal with terrorist threats, and the preservation of security in the governorate and the protection of public and private property and citizens.
The state of emergency and night curfews in the northern Sinai were first announced on October 25 last year after an explosion that targeted a large military checkpoint in the province that left tens of dead soldiers.
The state of emergency has since been extended by three months respectively.
Egypt has experienced anti-government attacks that killed hundreds of police and soldiers killed or wounded since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to protests against his regime.
Most anti-state attacks were claimed by the “state of Sinai,” an Islamist group based in the Sinai and is affiliated with the Islamic state group (IS).
The Egyptian army in September began a vast anti-terrorist operation in the North Sinai province.
The military says hundreds of militants have been killed in the ongoing operation.