Egypt to impose 'full control' over Sinai, says president

Egypt will impose full control over the Sinai, its new president has pledged, as the Israeli government warned of a deteriorating security situation after gunmen killed around 15 Egyptian border guards and hijacked armoured vehicles to launch an attack across the border in Israel.
Mohamed Morsi said: "Those who carried out this crime will pay dearly." In a speech on Egyptian state television, he added: "Clear orders have been given to our armed forces and police to chase and arrest those who carried out this assault on our children. The forces will impose full control over these areas of Sinai."

The president convened an emergency meeting with military and security leaders in the aftermath of the assault, which he described as a "serious challenge to the Egyptian sovereignty".
Following the attack, which was launched just after sunset on Sunday, the Israeli defence minister, Ehud Barak, said it had "again raise[d] the need for determined Egyptian action to enforce security and prevent terror in the Sinai".

Israel has become increasingly concerned about a security vacuum in the Sinai in the 18 months since Hosni Mubarak, the former president and staunch ally of Israel, was deposed in the Egyptian revolution.

Israel says some militant groups in Gaza have joined forces with Islamists operating in the Sinai. It describes the Sinai militants as "global jihadists" or connected to al-Qaida.



Egypt to impose 'full control' over Sinai, says president | World news | guardian.co.uk