20110328
reuters

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt will hold a parliamentary election in September, its military rulers said on Monday, setting a date that analysts said would suit well-organised Islamists and remnants of former leader Hosni Mubarak's party.

The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said emergency laws that have helped crush political life for decades would be lifted before elections, but did not say when, and approved a law easing restrictions on political party formation.

"It is a challenge for the new forces that came up as a result of the revolution," said Mustapha al-Sayyid, a political scientist, referring to the timetable for elections. "This period is relatively short for these parties."

Many secular reform groups have been calling on the military, which has governed since Mubarak was deposed on February 11, to extend the transitional period to allow political life to recover from decades of oppression.

The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group formally banned under Mubarak, has emerged as the country's best organised political force. Other fledgling groups are trying to organise.

"Parliamentary elections will be in September," said Mamdouh Shaheen, a member of the ruling military council. A date for a presidential election, which will follow the legislative polls, had yet to be set, he added in a news conference.

The elections are major milestones on the path set by the military in a transition that will end with the army relinquishing power to a civilian, elected government.

The military also said on Monday a curfew in place since the start of the uprising that swept Mubarak from power was shortened to three hours from 2 a.m. (0000 GMT) to 5 a.m -- a sign of growing confidence in the police that have returned to the streets in recent weeks to restore law and order.