Claims by Islamic State that it caused a Russian passenger plane to crash, killing all 224 people on board, are “propaganda” aimed at damaging Egypt’s image, president Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has said

He added that the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula is under “full control”.In an interview with the BBC released on Tuesday, Mr Sisi also reiterated his assertion that the cause of the crash may not be known for months and that, until then, it should not be speculated on

Islamic State militants said on the day of the crash that they had “brought down” the Russian plane to avenge those killed as a result of Moscow’s recent air campaign in Syria, launched in support of Syrian president Bashar Assad

But the group did not provide any evidence to back up its claim, and militants in northern Sinai have not to date shot down commercial airliners or fighter jets.Irish Times News