CAIRO, Jun 30 (Aswat Masriya) - Six security personnel including two army officers and four conscripts, were killed on Thursday during an exchange of fire with "smugglers" in the Western Desert close to border with Libya, the army said. 

The armed forces did not specify the number of "smugglers" killed during the exchange of fire. 

The army spokesman said in a statement that border guards were on duty patrolling an area close to the western border with Libya when armed men opened fire on security forces.

Since the ouster of former president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, Egypt has seen a significant rise in militancy nationwide. 

Also, the militant fighting in Libya which has intensified since the overthrow of late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and the deteriorating security conditions in the neighbouring country have resulted in the proliferation of militias engaged in smuggling and cross-border militant activity.