Updated

Gunmen killed an Egyptian policeman Friday in the lawless Sinai peninsula, where the military has been engaged in a campaign to root out militants.

The police officer was shot dead as he left a hotel in the North Sinai town of El-Arish, the official MENA news agency reported.

Security forces are combing the area to find the suspects, a security official said.

More than 100 policemen have been killed across Egypt in attacks and clashes since the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on July 3.

The military has poured troops and armour into Sinai to crush the insurgency which surged after the army overthrew Morsi.

A subsequent crackdown on Islamists left hundreds killed and more than 2,000 arrested across the country.