CAIRO, Jul 26 (Aswat Masriya) - A state of emergency in place in parts of North Sinai was extended by three months as of Sunday, in a decision issued late on Saturday and published in the state's official gazette. 

As part of the extension, an accompanying night-time curfew has also been extended by three months. 

Egypt declared a state of emergency and a curfew in the border governorate last October, following a militant attack which left 33 security personnel killed.

Militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which changed its name to Sinai Province after pledging allegiance to Islamic State fighters last November, declared its responsibility for the attack.

The group has increasingly claimed responsibility for attacks in the peninsula, and has claimed three attacks in July alone.   

In January, Egypt's cabinet extended the night-time curfew declared in North Sinai for three more months.

Similarly, in April, the decision was extended for another three months and was due to expire on Sunday, making this most recent extension the third.

Militants have stepped up attacks targeting security forces in Egypt, particularly in the Sinai peninsula, since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013 after mass protests against his rule.