CAIRO, Sept 18 (Aswat Masriya) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Thursday that the maximum efforts to counter threats and challenges facing national security must be exerted, reported the state-owned news agency MENA. 

Sisi's comments came during an inspection of training activities for rapid intervention units of the armed forces in the presence of Defence Minister Sidki Sobhi and Armed Forces Chief Mahmoud Hijazi. 

The president praised the advanced performance of the armed forces.

On Tuesday, six police personnel were killed when an armoured vehicle exploded on the Rafah-Arish road in North Sinai.

A fact-sheet prepared by Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs put the death toll for terrorism acts which took place since January 2011 and until April 2014 at 971, including 664 security personnel.

Egypt's security forces have intensified their security measures in North Sinai in reaction to repeated militant attacks that target army and police officials, which rose significantly since the military ouster of former President Mohamed Mursi last year.