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CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's president has announced the formation of a new body to confront terrorism and extremism that includes the country's top officials.
Wednesday's decree by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi says the National Council to Confront Terrorism and Extremism will be comprised of 10 Egyptian government ministers, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Coptic Pope, Egypt's former Grand Mufti and parliament's speaker. It will be chaired by el-Sissi.
The council is tasked with drawing up a strategy to confront terrorism and extremism, coordinating with religious institutions and security authorities to promote moderate religious discourse and studying and proposing amendments to terrorism-related legislation.
Following Palm Sunday's twin church bombings in April, El-Sissi ordered the formation of a body to fight terrorism. The bombings left at least 45 people dead and more than 100 injured.
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