Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal said on  Monday 31/10/2016  that a government request to extend a state of emergency in a number of North Sinai areas for three months as of Oct 31 was referred to the general committee.

The announcement came following Prime Minister Sherif Ismail’s address to the parliament earlier today.

The Prime Minister said the extension comes in light of the risks currently faced due to continued encounters with terrorist groups in a number of North Sinai areas.

Terrorist attacks have not only targeted army and police personnel but also civilians, a matter that hindered development efforts in the region, the prime minister said.

The government’s request goes in line with presidential decree 487/2016, announcing a state of emergency in number of areas in North Sinai, Ismail concluded.

MENA