Two Egyptian policemen killed in Minya

Gunmen shot dead two Egyptian policemen in a pre-dawn attack while they were on patrol Tuesday in the southern city of Minya, the interior ministry said.

The gunmen opened fire on the two policemen while they patrolled in the city of Minya, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) south of Cairo, interior ministry spokesman Hani Abdel Latif told AFP.

The policemen were responsible for the security of a church in the city, a security official from Minya said, but Abdel Latif said the attack occurred far away from the church.

"Masked militants opened fire on the two policemen guarding the Church of the Good Shepherd in provincial capital Minya, killing them instantly," the source told The Anadolu Agency on the condition of anonymity.

"The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting, and a manhunt has been launched for them by the security agencies," he added.

Minya was the scene of unrest last year when the Coptic Christian community faced several attacks.

Christian Copts make up between 8-10 percent of Egypt's population of nearly 90 million people, according to unofficial estimates.

Egypt's Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, usually amid tight security measures.

Policemen and soldiers have faced regular militant attacks since the army ousted President Mohamed Morsi - Egypt's first freely elected leader - in July 2013.

Hundreds have been killed in attacks claimed by militant groups in retaliation for government crackdowns since Morsi's ouster.

The military takeover of power was supported by a number of Muslim and Christian figures, including Coptic Pope Tawadros.

Meanwhile, Egyptian security forces have killed eight suspected militants in a security crackdown in the country's restive, northeastern Sinai Peninsula, a security source said Tuesday.

"During the Monday crackdown, at least 28 terrorist hotbeds were destroyed and 20 suspects were arrested," the source told The Anadolu Agency on the condition of anonymity.

Egypt has stepped up its crack down on militancy in Sinai, which shares borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip.