Pro-west policies put Egypt in al-Qaeda's sights: Analysts

A group citing ties to Osama bin Laden's international terror organisation claimed responsibility for the bombings that wreaked unprecedented carnage in Egypt's flagship holiday resort.

The group, calling itself the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Levant and Egypt, claimed the bombings in an Internet statement, describing them as a "devastating blow to the Crusaders and the Zionists and the infidel Egyptian regime."

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified but several analysts said the claim was credible.

"I believe that these attacks were masterminded by al-Qaeda," said Makram Mohammed Ahmed, an editorialist for the government-owned Al-Ahram daily and an expert on terrorism.

"Following the assassination of the Egyptian envoy in Iraq, Ihab al-Sharif, and the al-Qaeda statement claiming the murder and accusing the Egyptian regime of being under the 'orders of the Crusaders', it is clear that Egypt is being targeted because of its regional and international policies," he said.

Cairo's top diplomat in war-torn Iraq was kidnapped earlier this month and reportedly executed by his captors, who labelled him the "ambassador of the infidels".

"al-Qaeda considers Egypt an integral part of the US-led coalition," Ahmed said.