CAIRO
Egypt has declared a three-day mourning period over the killing of 21 border guards in a gunfight with militants on border with Libya.
"President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has declared mourning for three days across Egypt…as of Sunday," Presidency spokesman Ihab Badawi said in a statement.
Twenty-one Egyptian border guards were killed and four others injured Saturday in an exchange of fire with militants near Libyan border.
Army spokesman Mohamed Samir said that a terrorist group had attacked a border checkpoint near al-Farafra oasis, 100km south of Cairo.
He said border guards engaged in gunfight with the militants, leading to the explosion of an arms depot.
Security sources earlier said that 20 border guards had been killed in gunfight with "traffickers".
By Sameh Gad
www.aa.com.tr/en
