The latest attack is the first in the city of Luxor. which houses some of Egypt's main archeological sites.

Its the most serious attack in southern Egypt since Muslim militants launched a campaign in 1992 to topple the secular government of President Hosni Mubarak and replace it with a purist Islamic state.

The campaign has claimed more than 1,200 lives so far, including more than 30 tourists.

The militants have also targetted policemen and Coptic Christians.

The government has launched a series of crackdowns against the two main extremist groups -- the Jihad group, whose members killed the former President, Anwar Sadat, and the Gamaat Islamiya -- or Islamic group.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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