New counter-terrorism unit formed in Egypt to fight militancy

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today formed a unified counter-terrorism body, two days after a series of militant attacks killed at least 32 people in the restive Sinai peninsula.
In an apparent reference to the Muslim Brotherhood movement, Sisi in a televised speech yesterday said that Egypt is facing a war against "the strongest secret organisation of the last two centuries."
"That means Egyptians took the most critical decisions in the modern history, in the June 30 and July 3 (2013)," he said, referring to the massive protests against Brotherhood- linked president Mohamed Morsi that lead to his ouster by the army.

Sisi condoled the death of the 32 people, including 27 soldiers, in Egypt's restive North Sinai in a series of simultaneous attacks by a group that recently pledged allegiance to Islamic State.
"I'm not only sending my condolences to families, but to Egypt," he said.
During his speech, the President condemned the attacks saying that Egypt will claim victory in this confrontation with work, effort and blood.

Sisi also asked people to rally around the army.
"Any choice you'll choose, I will do it," the President repeated twice in his speech.
Meanwhile, after a meeting with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), Sisi issued a decree today naming Osama Askar as head of the counter-terrorism unit, which will deal with terrorist threats in parts of Egypt to the east of Suez -- including the restive Sinai Peninsula.