Egyptian troops and security forces have detained nine Islamic militants in northern Sinai believed to be behind an attack last weekend that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers, an official said.
It was the first reported arrest in connection with the attack last Sunday, which sparked a major Egyptian military operation in the Sinai Peninsula aimed at stamping out Islamic militant groups which have become bolder and grown in numbers since the removal last year of Hosni Mubarak. So far, the effectiveness of the four-day operation is not clear.
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