London, (Pal Telegraph) - Political groups say they will demonstrate against ruling military council's decision to expand Mubarak-era legislation.

Egyptian activists have called for a mass rally to condemn the emergency law, which the government has re-enforced against what it terms acts of terrorism and anarchy.

At least 33 political groups and movements said they would take part in Friday's protest in central Cairo's Tahrir Square, which had been the focal point of demonstrations over the past eight months.

However, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya said they will not take part in the rally.

Earlier this week, following a violent attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo and attempts to storm security buildings, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said it would enforce the Emergency Law at least until the end of this year, on articles relating to the spreading of misinformation, arms possession and interfering with traffic.

Protesters are pressing SCAF to rescind its recent decision to expand the Mubarak-era emergency laws, to set a timetable to hand power to a civilian administration and to prevent members of the National Democratic Party, the disbanded former ruling party, from taking part in parliamentary elections scheduled for November.

Lifting the emergency law, which gave security forces unlimited powers for 30 years in Egypt during Hosni Mubarak's rule, was one of the demands of protesters who took to the streets across Egypt earlier this year calling for the toppling of Mubarak, who resigned on February 11 in the face of the popular uprising.

Following his resignation, SCAF pledged  that the country's emergency law will be lifted, but only "as soon as current circumstances end".

Amnesty International, the UK-based rights group, condemned on Thursday the recent expansion of the law as a "serious erosion of human rights."

"The military authorities have essentially taken Egypt's laws back to the bad old days," Philip Luther, Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said.

"These changes are a major threat to the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, and the right to strike.

"We are  looking at the most serious erosion of human rights in Egypt since Mubarak stepped down."

Luther said that not only must SCAF repeal these amendments, "they need to end the state of emergency altogether, as they promised upon taking power in February".


Source : Agencies