This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28085068

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cairo bomb blasts kill two Egyptian policemen Two Egyptian policemen killed defusing bombs
(about 5 hours later)
Two bombs have exploded near a presidential palace in Egypt's capital, Cairo, killing two police officers. Two Egyptian policemen have been killed trying to defuse bombs that exploded near the presidential palace in Cairo, interior ministry officials say.
The first blast killed one officer and injured three others. The second device blew up as security forces tried to defuse it, killing the other officer. The first blast killed one officer and injured three others. An hour later the other officer was killed.
Islamist militants said they had planted bombs in the area last week.Islamist militants said they had planted bombs in the area last week.
The attack coincides with the first anniversary of the mass opposition protests that led to the military overthrowing President Muhammad Morsi. President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi promised swift "retribution" for the two deaths on the first anniversary of his rise to power.
Mass opposition protests a year ago culminated three days later in the military overthrowing President Muhammad Morsi.
In his recorded speech President Sisi referred to the dead policemen by saying: "I pledge before God and their families, the state will get just and speedy retribution."
Correspondents say that the dead bomb disposal experts were a police colonel and lieutenant colonel who were killed outside the Ittihadeya presidential palace in east Cairo.
Cairo's security chief told BBC Arabic that the head of the bomb-disposal department, Gen Alaa Abdel Zaher, was among those injured by Monday's explosions.Cairo's security chief told BBC Arabic that the head of the bomb-disposal department, Gen Alaa Abdel Zaher, was among those injured by Monday's explosions.
Meanwhile, the civil defence deputy chief said security forces were currently defusing two other bombs found outside the presidential palace. The militant Ajnad Misr group, or Soldiers of Egypt, is reported to have said that it planted several bombs near the presidential palace to target security forces.
A source inside the presidential palace said President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi's schedule had not been changed following the blasts. It said that it did so without realising that civilians could be in danger and later said that it was not able to remove them, warning passers-by to be aware of the danger.
"There are two explosive devices... At the corner of the palace at the intersection of al-Ahram and al-Merghani streets," the statement on the militants' Twitter account is reported to have said.
Meanwhile, the civil defence deputy chief said security forces were also defusing two other bombs found outside the presidential palace.
Bombings and shootings by Islamist militants have left hundreds of security personnel dead since Mr Morsi was ousted on 3 July.Bombings and shootings by Islamist militants have left hundreds of security personnel dead since Mr Morsi was ousted on 3 July.
The militants have stepped up attacks in response to the crackdown on Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and its allies, in which more than 1,400 people have been killed and 16,000 detained. The militants have stepped up attacks in response to the crackdown on Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and its allies, in which more than 1,400 people have been killed.