Egypt's ruler partially lifts emergency laws

CAIRO -- Egypt's military ruler decreed a partial lifting of the nation's hated emergency laws Tuesday, an apparent attempt to ease criticism of his policies ahead of the first anniversary of the popular uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi said in a televised address that the draconian laws, in force for more than three decades, would be lifted effective today but would remain applicable to crimes committed by "thugs." The military has often labeled organizers of anti-government demonstrations "thugs."

The partial lifting of the emergency laws, which give police far-reaching powers, are not likely to satisfy rights groups that have been campaigning for their total removal. They say at least 12,000 civilians have been tried before military tribunals since the military council took power. Many of them, they say, charged with acts of "thuggery" were, in fact, protesters.

The term also has been used to ridicule the military in the independent press, and some of the young protesters in recent demonstrations have been chanting, "We are thugs!"

At least 80 protesters have been killed by troops since October.

To mark the anniversary, the rulers pledged to release more than 1,900 people who were tried in military courts. The release was set for this morning.

In another apparent goodwill gesture, blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad was freed yesterday. He was arrested in March and sentenced to 3 years in prison over his criticism of the military's use of violence against protesters.

Protesters were expected to take to the streets on the anniversary to call on the military to immediately step down and to demand retribution for hundreds of protesters killed.

"I'm here for the rights of martyrs. A year has passed and nothing has changed," protester Mohammed Khalil said he sat in a tent he erected last night at Tahrir Square, birthplace of the anti-Mubarak uprising.