By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : The Egyptian parliament has approved the extension of emergency law for another two years as of June 1.
Out of the 03 deputies, 305 members of parliament voted Monday for the two-year renewal, with 103 rejections.
The General Committee of the People’s Assembly, lower house of Egyptian parliament, called for the emergency law to be extended under the current circumstances, arguing that terrorism had become a global, not only local, phenomenon.
Although Egypt has already managed to secure the internal front and cut off many financial sources of terrorism, terrorist manifestations still exist due to the continuing causes of international terrorism and its clandestine cells, it said.
However, the government is required to go ahead with political reforms aimed to shore up democracy and public freedom, it added.
Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif called for the emergency rule to be extended for a further two years, while vowing that it was only for the purpose of confrontation of terrorism to safeguard national security and safeguard the well-being of citizens.
Nazif said it was difficult for the government to finish a draft anti-terror law for the time being, which, he said, should ensure balance between public freedom and societal stability and security.
Emergency law has been in force in Egypt since 1981, but anti-terrorism legislation, which is due to replace it, is not ready. It has been strongly criticised by the opposition and human rights groups.
Supporters of the government say the state of emergency has brought stability to Egypt, in a region seething with turmoil.
The last two-year extension of the state of emergency would have expired on June 1.