The cabinet decided Tuesday to reduce the hours of curfew in North Sinai to allow residents performing Eidul-Fetr prayers.

The Awqaf Ministry had pleaded the cabinet to cancel the curfew in during the first day of Eidul-Fetr to allow the prayers, Awqaf Minister's undersecretary in North Sinai Amin Abul-Waged said.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab approved reducing the curfew an hour, to end at 5 a.m. instead of 6, Abul-Waged said.

He noted that 20 open areas were allocated for performing the Eid prayers in North Sinai governorate in addition to the mosques, adding that the open areas would not be available in Rafah and Sheikh Zuwaid cities due to security reasons.