US welcomes lifting state of emergency in Egypt

The United States welcomed the Egypt''s announcement to lift the country''s 30-year-old state of emergency law. US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland congratulated Egyptians on the development, saying they are finally taking a major step that is "very important for Egypt and for its future." She noted, however, the military government''s use of the term "thuggery," and said the US is seeking clarification on the meaning from Egypt''s leaders. Egypt''s military ruler has announced the plans to lift the country''s state of emergency, except for cases involving thuggery. Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi said in a televised address marking the first anniversary of the January 25 revolution that his decision was to be enforced on Wednesday. The Emergency Law was introduced in 1981 by former president Hosni Mubarak. The current government decided to extend it until June following an attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo in September and several attempts to storm security buildings. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took over after Mubarak and is expected to hand over power after presidential elections scheduled to be held in June.