CAIRO — Egypt’s government on Saturday shortened a widely imposed evening curfew, signaling that authorities sense turmoil is waning after the president’s ouster threatened to destabilize the country.
The Cabinet’s decision to cut the curfew by two hours came as Egypt’s interim prime minister vowed that his government’s priority is restoring security.
Egypt experienced one of the deadliest bouts of violence in recent days since its Arab Spring began in 2011. Nationwide clashes and attacks killed more than 1,000 people after the security forces cleared two Cairo sit-ins belonging to supporters of toppled President Mohammed Morsi, overthrown in a popularly supported July 3 military coup.
The easing of the curfew was announced a day after calls for protests by Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood group largely fizzled out.
Late Saturday, security forces said they arrested Mohie Hamed in Cairo. It was not immediately clear what charges he faces. He was a presidential adviser to Morsi and a former member of the Brotherhood’s political guidance bureau.
