Residents continue to breach curfew terms in the 3 cities There is a state of uncertainty surrounding Egypt's Suez Canal region after President Mohammed Morsi handed the governors of the three key cities the authority to shorten or cancel his previously-imposed night curfew.On Sunday, President Morsi declared a 30-day state of emergency and a daily 2100 hrs to 0600 hrs curfew in the north-eastern cities of Suez, Port Said and Ismailia, after widespread protests and rioting.
However, at a press conference on Wednesday, he gave governors of the cities the power to set the rules. Shortly after Morsi's decision, Ismailia governor Gamal Imbabi reduced the night-time curfew imposed on the Canal city from nine to three hours, 0200 hrs to 0500 hrs.
Meanwhile, Suez governor Samir Eglan has said he may lift the city's curfew and deploy more soldiers and police to ensure security.
Ismailia and Suez have both witnessed anti-government protests and clashes since the second anniversary of Egypt's January 25 revolution on Friday. In Suez, nine people – including one police officer – were killed, while at least one civilian has been reported killed in Ismailia.
Port Said, meanwhile, has seen intermittent violence since Saturday, after a criminal court sentenced 21 of its residents to death for their involvement in last February's Port Said stadium disaster in which scores of football fans were killed.
Riots that erupted in the city after the verdict was announced left at least 39 civilians and two police officers dead.
Residents in the three cities have broken the curfew with widespread protests. Presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali on Tuesday announced that, based on security reports, President Morsi is reconsidering the state of emergency imposed in the Canal cities since Monday.
Ali also said the emergency was not meant to prevent peaceful demonstrations. "The state of emergency may be cancelled, shortened or limited geographically," he explained.
Meanwhile, the Shura Council has formed a fact-finding committee to visit the Canal cities and inspect the security situation.