Egypt brands jihadist ISIL a 'terrorist group'

An Egyptian court on Nov. 30 branded the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) operating in Iraq and Syria a "terrorist" organization, the official news agency MENA reported.
      
An Egyptian militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which pledged allegiance to ISIL 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 ISIL ruling followed a suit filed by a lawyer.