An Egyptian court on Sunday branded the ISIL terrorist group operating in Iraq and Syria a "terrorist" organisation, the official news agency MENA reported.

An Egyptian court on Sunday branded the ISIL terrorist group operating in Iraq and Syria a "terrorist" organisation, the official news agency MENA reported.

An Egyptian militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which pledged allegiance to ISIL earlier in November, has itself also been designated a terrorist organization under a similar ruling.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, based in the restive Sinai Peninsula, has killed scores of police and soldiers since the army ousted Islamist president Mohammad Mursi in July last year.

MENA said the ISIL ruling followed a suit filed by a lawyer.