In Symbolic Move, Emergency Rule Expires After 3 Decades

The transitional government in Egypt has allowed a broad and long-standing emergency law to expire, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The emergency measure was instituted in 1981 following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat and has been renewed repeatedly.

Security forces, acting under the law, had sweeping powers to detain people without charge.

The unpopular law was one of the driving forces behind last year's uprising that brought down President Hosni Mubarak. ...