Egypt troops raid Sinai militant hideouts, kill 1

Egyptian officials say army and security troops carried out several raids in a city in the northern Sinai Peninsula, searching for al-Qaida-inspired extremists. Militants have been increasingly active in the area since former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster in February, taking advantage of the security vacuum to attack police patrols and bomb gas pipelines in the peninsula bordering Israel. The security officials say troops, backed by armored vehicles, carried out five raids Monday in el-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai. In one location, they clashed with gunmen, killing one. Ten suspects and six wanted criminals were also arrested. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation.