Shootout in Egypt kills dozens of police officers, troops

Armed militants killed at least 35 soldiers and police officers in a shootout during a raid on a suspected militant hideout in Egypt's western desert on Friday.

Clashes occurred when eight militants opened fire at a security force that was heading to arrest them, according to local media.

An interior ministry statement said some of the "terrorist" attackers had died, without giving the number of casualties.

The ministry said the police received information about a group of terrorists hiding in the al-Wahat area of the Giza desert, adding that a police force moved to attack the terrorist elements.

However, the terrorists started firing at the security forces as they approached their hideout, leaving a number of policemen dead and injured, according to the statement.

The small extremist group Hasm claimed the attack, saying in a statement that 28 members of the security forces were killed, with 32 injured.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY & AFP & REUTERS)