国际英语新闻:Egypt army kills 16 militants in Sinai security campaign

CAIRO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's army on Tuesday killed 16 suspected militants in clashes and arrested four others suspected of being extremist leaders and members of the Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis group, security sources told Xinhua.

"Army tanks shelled three vehicles and a motor bike raising al- Qaida flag in separated clashes in the Northern Sinai villages of al-Muqataa, al-Agra and al-Goura," said the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Tuesday's episode is part of a massive security campaign in the Sinai Peninsula where attacks against security forces have escalated following the 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi by the military during mass protests against his rule. Dozens of suspected extremists have been killed and hundreds more arrested as a result.

"Security forces arrested four senior leaders of Ansar Bayt al- Maqdis who have been involved in Rafah massacres (against security forces)," the sources added. "Weapons and explosives were seized and the security operation is still ongoing."

The removal of the Islamist president angered extremist groups that have been launching attacks against security personnel and facilities in Sinai, the capital Cairo and some other provinces, leaving dozens killed and hundreds injured.

Meanwhile, security forces have been waging a massive crackdown on suspected Morsi loyalists, leading to growing resentment among the relatives and supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, from which Morsi hailed.

International human rights groups documented that security forces used excessive force to disband two major pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza in August 2013, leaving around 1,000 dead and thousands of others detained, including journalists and student activists.

The government holds the Muslim Brotherhood responsible for attacks targeting security forces. But the Islamist group has repeatedly denied this claim.