CAIRO, March 24 (Aswat Masriya) Unknown assailants shot a policeman dead in North Sinai on Monday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

"Ramadan Ghoneim AbdelSamad was heading to his work at the security directory in Arish when he was shot dead," according to the ministry's statement on Facebook.

The authorities imposed a security cordon around the crime scene until they determine the identity of the perpetrators.

Attacks against security forces have risen sharply since the army's ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, which was prompted by mass protests against his rule.

The attacks have killed over 175 security personnel, who belong to the police and army.

At least 185 militants were killed in security campaigns in response to these attacks, according to officials.