Cairo, Egypt - Only a few hundred Egyptian protesters took part in the “No to the Emergency Law' demonstration at Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the uprising that led to the fall of long-time ruler, Hosni Mubark, in February.

There was free flow of traffic at the Tahrir Square, unlike the situation in last Friday's gatherings, when traffic was interrupted.

In one of the smallest turnouts for Friday's demonstrations in Tahrir, protesters objected to the recent decision by the interim ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in Egypt (SCAF) to activate emergency law measures and extend it to the end of June 2012.

SCAF took the step following last Friday's turbulent events that saw protesters storm the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, attacking several buildings of the ministry of interior, along with rising football stadium violence and an unprecedented escalation of street crimes.

The protesters argued that emergency laws were against the goals of the 25 January revolution, demanding its abrogation along with military trials of civilians.

SCAF said political activists would not be subjected to emergency law measures, adding  that only criminal acts would be dealt with by the law, with the accused sent to state security prosecution for trial.

The council has said it will go ahead with the proceedings of the first post-revolution legislative elections in Egypt on 27 September, with the process to end in the third week of November.

No date has yet been set for presidential elections in Egypt.

SCAF has vowed to lead the country to a democratically-elected civilian administration within the shortest time possible.

Pana 17/09/2011