After 31 years in force, Egypt's state of emergency expired Thursday (May 31st).

It has been in place since former President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981, allowing authorities to detain people without charge and try them in emergency security courts.

Egypt's ruling military council issued a statement saying the military will continue to carry its national and historic responsibility in protecting the country, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, Essam al-Erian, deputy leader of the Freedom and Justice Party -- which has the most seats in parliament -- told AFP the military's statement indicates it will not ask parliament to extend the law.

The party's leader and Mohamed Morsi, one of two presidential front-runners, said the law will not be renewed.

Ending the state of emergency was a key demand of protesters who ousted former President Hosni Mubarak in last year's uprising. Thousands of Egyptians have been jailed under the law over the past three decades.