Egypt brands jihadist IS a 'terrorist group'

An Egyptian court on Sunday branded the Islamic State jihadist group operating in Iraq and Syria a "terrorist" organisation, the official news agency MENA reported.

An Egyptian militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which pledged allegiance to IS earlier in November, has itself also been designated a terrorist organisation under a similar ruling.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, based in the restive Sinai Peninsula, has killed scores of police and soldiers since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July last year.

MENA said the IS ruling followed a suit filed by a lawyer.