CAIRO, Feb 8 (Aswat Masriya) Sixteen “extremists” were killed in the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, Egypt’s military spokesman said.

Spokesman Ahmed Aly added that the extremists were killed when forces targeted hideouts that were being used by the Muslim brotherhood.

Egypt declared the Brotherhood a “terrorist organization” in December, even though the group continues to deny its use of violence.

Brotherhood supporters have been organizing demonstrations since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July.