Soldier killed by Islamist militants in Egypt's Sinai

A soldier was shot dead on Friday by Islamist militants in Egypt's restive North Sinai province, a security official told Xinhua.

Gunmen from Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) group intercepted an ambulance carrying two soldiers, the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the militants took the ambulance after they shot one soldier dead and kidnapped another.

The paramedic in the ambulance were also injured, the official said.

Egypt has been witnessing a growing wave of anti-security attacks that killed hundreds of army personnel and policemen since the ouster of the Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

The ABM group, which has sworn allegiance to Islamic State, claimed responsibility for most of the anti-security attacks in Sinai and other cities in Egypt.

Egypt executed on Sunday six convicted Islamist militants, two of whom are top leaders of the ABM group.

On Thursday, the group vowed retaliation of judges and security men. Endit