Emergency in Egypt after deadly blasts

Egypt was preparing to impose a state of emergency yesterday after jihadist bombings killed dozens at two churches in the deadliest attacks in recent memory on the country's Coptic Christian minority.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the three-month period, which will vastly increase the powers of Egypt's security forces, after the Islamic State group claimed the twin bombings that struck worshippers as they celebrated Palm Sunday mass.

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In a defiant speech, he warned the war against jihadists "will be long and painful" after he had ordered the army to protect "vital infrastructure" and increase security along Egypt's borders.

The cabinet said yesterday the state of emergency would begin from 1:00 pm, although it was not immediately clear whether it had taken effect. Constitutionally the measure still needed approval from parliament -- a formality given the number of pro-Sisi delegates.

The first Sunday bombing at the Mar Girgis church in Tanta city north of Cairo killed 28 people, the health ministry said.

The second struck outside Saint Mark's church in Alexandria, killing 17 people after a suicide bomber was prevented from entering the building.

Scores more were wounded in the latest in a string of jihadist-linked attacks on Egypt's Coptic community.

At the scene of the Alexandria blast yesterday investigators combed through the wreckage, taking pictures of the debris.

A handful of women, dressed in black, showed their identification papers to guards before entering the church.

"I'm so sad, I cannot speak," said one mourner, a woman in her 40s. At funerals yesterday, angry crowds gathered to denounce the security services.

"Leave, Leave, Abdel Ghaffar," mourners chanted, refering to the interior minister. "I am a Christian till judgement day," they shouted.

Lawmakers said the state of emergency -- Egypt's first since widespread unrest in 2013 -- would help the country face down a menacing jihadist insurgency.

It will allow police to detain for 45 days suspects "known to the security services but for whom there is not enough evidence to go to trial," said parliament member Yehia Kedwani.

TRUMP CALLS SISI

US President Donald Trump has called Sisi to express his condolences about twin church bombings by the Islamic State group, the White House said yesterday.

Trump spoke to Sisi on Sunday to express his "deepest condolences to Egypt and to the families who lost loved ones in the heinous terrorist attacks against Christian churches on Palm Sunday."

IS has been waging a deadly insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula and has claimed scores of attacks on security forces there.

But it has been unable to seize population centres, unlike its early gains in Iraq and Syria, and it has also lost top militants to Egyptian military strikes in recent months.

Analysts say Sunday's bombings suggest the group is lashing out as it finds itself under increasing pressure in other countries.