CAIRO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Egypt extended its nationwide state of emergency for another three months starting April 14, the official gazette said Saturday.

The first three-month state of emergency was imposed in April 2017, following twin bombings on two churches in northern provinces of Gharbiya and Alexandria that killed at least 47 and wounded more than 120 others. It was already extended three times in July and October last year, and January this year.

The extension would allow armed forces and the police to "take necessary measures to confront the dangers and funding of terrorism and safeguard security in all parts of the country," the official gazette said.

Egypt also extended a curfew on parts of North Sinai, including areas in the border towns of Rafah near the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip, it added.

The partial curfew in North Sinai will continue as long as the state of emergency remains in effect.

Egypt has been battling terrorist attacks, which have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

Terror attacks used to be centered in restive North Sinai, before spreading to other provinces including the capital Cairo and targeting the Coptic minority by church bombings.