Gunmen kill 21 Egyptian troops in security checkpoint attack

Gunmen killed 21 Egyptian soldiers at a security checkpoint on Saturday.

Officials said a weapons storage facility was blown up by a rocket-propelled grenade during the attack in Wadi al-Gadid governorate in western Egypt.

Security officials said the attackers were smugglers but an army spokesman said the assailants were "terrorists".

Two of the gunmen were killed in the clashes.

A gang of armed smugglers have killed 15 Egyptian border guards near the frontier with Libya, security officials said.

Initial reports suggested up to 10 more guards may have been wounded in the attack.

The attack took place in Wadi al-Gadid governorate, which borders both Sudan and Libya.

Local media said three smugglers were killed in clashes with the guards, Reuters has reported.