2 killed in security operation in southern Egypt

A wanted criminal and a farmer were killed on Thursday in a fire exchange between police and gunmen during a security operation in southern Egypt, a security source told Xinhua. In a village in Qena governorate, around 450 km south of Cairo, the security forces were searching for wanted criminals and thugs when they were attacked by gunmen. A fire exchange took place between them, killing one of the wanted criminals and a farmer passing by. Three other criminals managed to run away and the police seized two sacks of marijuana and a machine gun. The operation is part of series of crackdowns on criminals to restore security to the country after two years of turmoil since the 2011 upheaval that ousted the former regime.