CAIRO

Egyptian security forces killed eight suspected militants in military raids in Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula, according to a military spokesman on Wednesday.  

In a statement, Colonel Tamer al-Refai said counter terrorism forces attacked seven terrorist spots in northern Sinai.  

"Eight extremely dangerous terrorists were eliminated and two booby-trapped cars destroyed,” the spokesman said without elaborating.  

Wednesday's raids came after 15 military troops were killed and injured on Friday in a militant attack in Sinai.  

On Monday, three policemen were killed when a militant detonated an explosive device in Cairo’s ancient Islamic district close to the Al Azhar mosque.  

The violence came as the Egyptian parliament was debating amendments to the country's constitution to increase the presidential term from four to six years.