APRNEWS - Rights groups on Wednesday called for a "robust" response to a UN expert's allegations that people she met during a visit to Egypt faced harassment, intimidation and other reprisals afterwards.

A statement signed by six organisations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International urged an "independent UN investigation" into the accusations.

APRNEWS - At least seven Coptic Christians were killed Friday when gunmen opened fire on their bus in central Egypt, the province's bishop told AFP.

A security official confirmed the attack in Minya province, adding that there were "dead and wounded".

APRNEWS - Egyptian security forces have killed “terrorists” in a shootout in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Islamic State group is active, an interior ministry source said Sunday.

The Egyptian army has since February been conducting a major operation focused on Sinai to wipe out jihadists from IS.