JERUSALEM – Israel´s government is telling its citizens to immediately leave Egypt´s Sinai desert peninsula, citing warnings of planned attacks against them.

Spokesman Ofir Gendelman said Saturday that the country has "concrete information" that militants intend to attack Israeli tourists in coming days.

Gendleman wouldn´t provide further detail or say how many Israeli tourists are in the nearby Sinai, a popular destination. He said doing so would endanger their security.

Israel has had in place for years a general warning not to go to the Sinai, but urgent alerts to leave have stepped up as post- revolutionary Egypt grapples with security problems. In August militants crossed from the Sinai into Israel and killed eight people. (© 2012 The Associated Press 04/21/12)