The Armed Forces mourned the death of renowned poet Abdel Rahman el Abnoudi who breathed his last on Tuesday after a long illness at the age of 76.

In a statement, the army described the poet as "one of the most important guards of popular heritage".

He has enriched the Egyptian and Arab world with a great collection of poems and the iconic ones produced during the war of attrition and the 1973 victory, the statement added.

The army extended its condolences to his family.

Abnoudi's funeral was held on Wednesday at the Suez Canal city of Ismailia.