The Egyptian government has announced plans to extend the state of emergency by two more years despite protests from opposition groups and human rights organizations. The emergency law has been in effect since 1981. It has given police and security officials broad authority to break up public demonstrations, detain people without charges or evidence, and conduct searches without judicial approval. Egypt’s government said it intends to slightly relax the emergency law by narrowing its use to terrorism and drug trafficking cases, but analysts said the law could still be used to stifle dissent. Opposition parties have demanded an end to the emergency law in the run-up to parliamentary elections this year and a presidential vote in 2011.