Egypt state of emergency due to expire

Egypt’s state of emergency is due to expire at midnight on Thursday, after 31 years in force

Egypt’s state of emergency is due to expire at midnight on Thursday, after 31 years in force It has been in place without interruption since the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. The law gave authorities extensive powers including the right to detain people indefinitely without charge, prohibit protests and censor the media.

Campaigners have long argued for it to be lifted, but some fear Egypt will be left in a vacuum without it. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) issued a statement to reassure the country that it will “continue to carry its national responsibility in protecting the country until the transfer of power is over”.

Egypt is preparing for a run-off vote in the presidential elections which will be held on 16 -17 June. The two contenders are the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Mursi and former air force commander Ahmed Shafiq, who was President Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister. The emergency law was a key feature under ousted President Mubarak, who repeatedly broke promises to lift it.