EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma'an) -- A political party in Sinai on Wednesday called on Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi to tackle violence and security problems in the peninsula, a statement said.

The director of the Sinai Freedom Movement warned the president and Egyptian defense minister Adbul al-Fatah that Sinai was on the verge of exploding due to security problems such as kidnapping, murder, drug smuggling and violence.

Egypt's military must intervene in the region to maintain public order, and must close the smuggling tunnels with Gaza, the movement said.

Egyptian security forces have waged a security campaign in the desert Sinai region to reign in militant groups, after 16 Egyptian border guards were killed in an attack on their post in August.