Suicide car bomber kills 10 soldiers in Egypt

CAIRO: A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into one of two buses carrying off-duty soldiers in Egypts turbulent region of northern Sinai, killing 10 and wounding 35, security and military officials said.

They said the suicide bomber struck when the two buses traveled on the road between the border town of Rafah and the coastal city of el-Arish.

The explosion damaged both buses, officials said. The soldiers belong to the 2nd Field Army, which is doing most of the fighting against Islamic militant waging an insurgency against security forces in Sinai.

The buses were on their way to Cairo, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they werent authorized to release the information.

The northern Sinai region, which borders Gaza and Israel, has been restless for years, but attacks have grown more frequent and deadlier since the July ouster of President Mohammed Morsi.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesdays attack, but suicide car bombings are a signature method by militant groups linked to or inspired by al-Qaida.

It was the latest in a series of similar attacks targeting army and police facilities and checkpoints.