At least six soldiers in Egypt have been shot dead at a checkpoint on the northern outskirts of Cairo.

Two bombs found near the scene of the attack were also diffused, a security official said.

The army has already accused the Muslim Brotherhood of carrying out the strike.

The latest violence near the capital follows several similar acts against Egyptian security forces since Islamist President Mohammed Mursi was overthrown.

Analysts say they expect attacks on the Egyptian army to increase in the coming months ahead of presidential elections.