Two policemen were killed in an exchange of fire with gunmen in Egypt's southern province of Qena Tuesday, the province's security chief said, dpa reported.
The fight broke out as police tried to apprehend two Qena area robbery suspects. The armed suspects escaped in a police car, but one was captured shortly after.
Crime in Egypt has soared in the nationwide security vacuum left by the ouster of long-time dictator Hosny Mubarak almost two years ago.