US Welcomes Egypt’s Lifting Of State Of Emergency

The United States welcomed the lifting Tuesday of a three-months long state of emergency in Egypt, imposed after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

“We welcome the formal lifting of the state of emergency including the curfew,” said State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki. “However, we would also note that the government is considering other legislation regarding security. We urge the government to respect the rights of all Egyptians.”

An Egyptian court on Tuesday ordered an end to the state of emergency two days before it was set to expire on Thursday.

US officials had repeatedly called for the state of emergency to be lifted after it was imposed in mid-August as deadly unrest swept Egypt following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The state of emergency was declared on August 14, the day the Egyptian army — which had installed an interim government — dispersed two Islamist protest camps, killing hundreds of protesters.

In the days following, at least 1,000 people were killed, most of them Morsi supporters.

Source : Ahram