Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has sacked the country's intelligence chief and the governor of the country's North Sinai province. Hours earlier, the Egyptian military launched an offensive in the region against suspected Islamist militants which it says has killed 20 people. The campaign comes after militants killed 16 Egyptian border guards in the area on Sunday. On Wednesday, more attacks followed on checkpoints in the town of al-Arish. Those attacks left a number of people wounded and the military offensive was launched hours later. The sacking of the country's intelligence chief was announced in a statement on state-run TV. "Gen Mohamed Murad Mowafi is given retirement starting from today," presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said. Sunday's attack was the the deadliest and most brazen against Egyptian troops in the Sinai region for decades, and Mr Mursi had faced criticism for not taking decisive action in response.