DUSHANBE, 10.04.2017 /NIAT “Khovar”/. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi declared in a televised statement on Sunday evening a three-month state of emergency in the Arab country, Xinhua news agency reports.

The announcement came hours after two deadly blasts in northern Egypt, which left at least 44 dead and more than 120 injured, mostly worshippers observing Palm Sunday.

The bomb attack at Mar Girgis Church of Tanta city in Gharbiya Province left at least 27 dead and 78 wounded, while the following suicide bombing at Saint Mark’s Church of the coastal city of Alexandria killed 17 and injured 48, according to the Health Ministry.

Later on Sunday, the Islamic State (IS, banned in Tajikistan) group claimed responsibility for the twin church bombings on its so-called «Amaq» news website.

Al-Sisi expressed in a statement his strongest condemnation and offered condolences to the families of the victims. The president also announced a three-day mourning for the victims.

«This treacherous terrorism targets the nation with its citizens, both Copts and Muslims, and it will never break the determination of the Egyptians and their true will to confront the powers of evil,» al-Sisi said in the statement.