Egyptian parliament approves 3-month state of emergency

By Mohamed Khaled

CAIRO

Egypt's parliament on Tuesday voted to impose a three-month countrywide state of emergency after two deadly church bombings on Sunday left at least 45 Coptic-Christian worshippers dead.

"Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal has announced the assembly’s unanimous approval of the state of emergency," state television reported.

Addressing MPs, Prime Minister Sharif Ismail justified the move, which he said came as part of “the state’s ongoing efforts to eradicate terrorism”.

On Monday, Egypt’s cabinet endorsed a presidential decree calling for the imposition of the state of emergency.

In a statement, the government said the state of emergency had technically gone into effect on Monday at 13:00 local time (1100 GMT).

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi first called for the state of emergency after twin church attacks left 45 people dead -- and scores more injured -- in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria.

The Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the deadly bombings, which occurred as Coptic Christians marked the Palm Sunday holiday.

The state of emergency allows the authorities to adopt a raft of exceptional measures, including the referral of terrorism suspects to state security courts, the imposition of curfews and restrictions on media.