The Egyptian cabinet approved in a meeting on Thursday the extension of a nationwide state of emergency for another three months.

The renewal still requires parliamentary approval.

On 11 April, Egypt's parliament voted in favour of imposing a three-month state of emergency following two deadly suicide bombings that hit two churches in Alexandria and Tanta, killing 47 people and injuring dozens more during prayer services.

The militant group Daesh claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Egypt has had a state of emergency since 2014 in some parts of North Sinai as part of efforts to battle an Islamist insurgency that intensified after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

According to the Egyptian constitution, any state of emergency must be approved by parliament by majority vote within seven days of its declaration by the president, with renewal also requiring parliamentary approval.

The state of emergency grants authorities expanded powers including trying civilians in special courts, restricting or regulating movement in public places, and more authority to regulate media outlets.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/271438.aspx