An explosion was reported at a depot along the Egyptian natural gas pipeline in Sinai that normally supplies Israel and Jordan with gas, Army Radio reported Saturday.

 
The attack on the pipeline was the third this month and the fifth since the beginning of 2011. It also followed a shootout between Egyptian security forces and apparent Islamic militants on Friday.
 
The pipeline was not currently supplying Israel with natural gas due to damage incurred from the previous blasts.
 
On Friday, an Egyptian army officer and three civilian bystanders were shot dead in fighting between an armed group and security forces in northern Sinai, security officials told Rueters on Saturday.
 
Also Friday, about 100 armed men rode through the town of el-Arish on motorcycles and in cars, waving flags with Islamic slogans and firing in the air, 
 
They then attacked a police station, engaging in a shootout with the police and army in which the army officer died.
 
Three civilians, a 70-year-old man, a 13-year-old boy and an 18-year-old youth were caught up in the shooting and died from bullet wounds, the ministry of health said in a statement.
 
Four army officers, nine security guards and six civilians were wounded in the attack and taken to an army hospital for treatment, MENA state news agency reported.
 
Witnesses told the Associated Press the attackers, many of whom wore masks, did not seem to be from the area as they lost their way several times before reaching the police station.