Cairo, Egypt - Egypt has given more details of the emergency measures it recently activated to deal with worsening violence from incessant protests, saying for example that all thuggery cases will be transferred to the State Security Court instead of military courts.

Egyptian Minister of Information Ossama Heykal explained Wednesday that the emergency laws would only target acts of thuggery.

Heykal said breaches by potential political activists and issues of free speech and opinions would  be handled by civil courts.

He said the emergency laws would be temporary, and called on all political parties to help the government end the emergency period as fast as possible.

The minister also assured that the emergency period would not delay the 27 Sept. start of the process leading to legislative elections.

Last week, Egypt announced the activation of some 'tough' measures, in the wake of the 9 September storming by protesters of the Israeli embassy in Cairo and attacks on several buildings belonging to the ministry of interior.

Meanwhile, a member of the interim ruling military, Gen. Mamdouh Shahin, has told the Egyptian media that the emergency laws would remain in place till June 2012.

Gen. Shahin said the reactivation of emergency laws would help Egypt to return to the path of stability, and that the laws would apply to thugs and outlaws.

Pana 15/09/2011