Egypt set to cut curfew by 2 hours

A failed attempt on the life of Egypt's Interior Minister and an ongoing military offensive in the restive Sinai Peninsula is likely to force the government to extend its month-long state of emergency when it meets tomorrow, an official close to decision-making circles told AA. "The government is seriously thinking about cutting the curfew by two hours to last from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.," the official told Anadolu Agency. According to the official, who asked not to be named, the Cabinet, during its Thursday weekly meeting, will discuss the possibility of decreasing the curfew hours and extending the state of emergency – both imposed hours after the bloody dispersal by security forces of two major sit-ins staged by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi on August 14. The government had said at the time that the measures would be in place for one month in the hopes of curbing mass protests sparked by the violent crackdown on sit-in camps which left hundreds dead and injured. Since then, the government has eased the evening curfew twice, except for Fridays, which usually see stepped-up protest activity. The strictly-enforced curfew has limited movement on the streets and disrupted many businesses which make most of their profits at night, especially during the summer. "The security situation in the country is not stable, not only in Sinai, but also in the capital," the official argued. "The assassination attempt on the interior minister and recent incidents are sufficient for citizens to understand the reasons that spurred the government to think about extending the state of emergency," he added. Declaring a state of emergency allows security forces to arrest citizens and carry out searches of homes and vehicles without judicial permission. Last month, Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister Hossam Eissa told Anadolu Agency that the decision to declare the state of emergency was the "only option" in light of mounted violence on the streets across the country.