Egypt extends state of emergency by two months

CAIRO -- Egypt extended state of emergency that was scheduled to end on Thursday by two months, official news agency MENA reported.

Interim President Adli Mansour decided to extend the state of emergency... by two months, as of Thursday at 4:00 pm  (1400 GMT) , said president's spokesman Ihab Badawi.

The extension is based on the security conditions in the country and after the approval of the cabinet, Badawi said in a statement quoted by MENA.

Mansour initially announced a month-long state of emergency, and imposed a curfew when unrest hit the country after the government dispersed supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo on August 14.

The curfew was shortened twice. Currently it runs from 11:00 pm (2100 GMT) to 06:00 am (0400 GMT), while on Friday it is extended by four hours, starting from 07:00 pm (1700 GMT).