CAIRO — Egypt's interior minister has fired the security chief of Northern Sinai governorate after suspected Islamic militants killed three policemen in the regional capital on Saturday.

The Interior Ministry said Sunday that Gen. Ahmed Bakr was relieved of his post and replaced by Gen. Sameeh Beshendi.

In the Saturday attack in El-Arish, gunmen opened fire at a police car and fled after they raised a black Islamic battle flag and shouted "God is great."

Dozens of policemen went on strike Sunday, blocking the city's main roads as the defense and interior ministers arrived, and demanding a stronger military campaign against the militants.

Egyptian security forces have come under attack numerous times by militants who have exploited a security void in the desert peninsula that borders the Gaza Strip and Israel.