Egypt's parliament has approved on Monday a presidential decree to extend the state of emergency in designated parts of North Sinai for three further months. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi decided in October to extend the state of emergency starting from Oct. 31, but his decision awaited for the approval of the majority of the parliament's members. The Egyptian constitution states that the president may declare a state of emergency after consultation with the cabinet. However, "such declaration must be presented to the House of Representatives within the following seven days to decide thereon as it deems fit," according to Article 154 of the constitution. Sisi's decision to extend the state of emergency came few days after 12 security personnel were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in North Sinai. The state of emergency has been extended for three months at a time since it was initially declared by Sisi in October 2014 in reaction to a militant attack that killed 33 security personnel. Militant insurgency has surged in North Sinai since the military ouster of then-president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 after mass protests against his rule. Daesh-affiliated militants are the most active in the area, targeting mainly security personnel. Source: Albawaba News
