CAIRO, Nov 5 (Aswat Masriya) – Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued on Wednesday a decree appointing an advisor for security affairs and fighting terrorism and another advisor for national security, reported state television.

Former Planning and International Cooperation Minister Faiza Abu el-Naga was appointed as presidential advisor for national security. Abu el-Naga, appointed as minister during the tenure of toppled president Hosni Mubarak, maintained her post for almost 11 years. She was replaced in August 2012, when ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi appointed his first cabinet.

The new security affairs advisor, Ahmed Gamal El-Din, served as interior minister under Mursi's rule. He was replaced in January 2013 by current Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim.

Sisi also appointed Khaled Mostafa al-Baqli as secretary general of the National Security Council. Baqli served as Egypt's ambassador to India.

Egypt's security forces have intensified their measures in reaction to repeated militant attacks that target army and police officials, which rose significantly since Mursi's ouster.

At least 30 military personnel were killed in a suicide blast which targeted a security checkpoint in Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid on October 24. The explosion also caused damage to two military vehicles. 

Shortly afterwards, a separate attack by unidentified gunmen on a security checkpoint in Arish killed three more security personnel.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency and a nighttime curfew in parts of the Sinai Peninsula in response to the deadly attacks.

He also issued on October 27 a new law which refers crimes committed against the state's public and "vital" facilities to the military judiciary.