Egyptian gov't asks parliament to extend emergency law

The Egyptian government asked the parliament on Tuesday to extend the emergency law for two years but restricting it during this period to terrorism and drugs trafficking crimes.

Addressing the People's Assembly (lower house of parliament), Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif called for an extension of the controversial law for an extra two years until the formulation of a balanced counter-terrorism law.

The request presented by the Egyptian prime minister included for the first time legal restrictions on both "the scope and the application of the emergency law," the government said in a press release.

"The reforms significantly curtail the special powers provided under the Emergency Law, prohibiting the government from monitoring communications and media, confiscating publications and property and ordering evacuations," the release said.

Source:Xinhua
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