CAIRO (AA) - Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour on Wednesday declared a month-long state of emergency as political violence rages countrywide.
In a statement, the presidency said the army was tasked with helping police "take whatever steps necessary to maintain security and order, protect public and private property and secure people's lives."
Declaring a state of emergency allows security forces to arrest citizens and carry out searches of homes and vehicles without judicial permission.
The move came hours after security forces violently dispersed two sit-ins staged by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo and Giza in the early hours of Wednesday.
