Egypt's emergency law - which was in place for more than 30 years - has been lifted, a spokesman for the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said Thursday.

The unpopular and wide-ranging law became a focal point for demonstrations demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak more than a year ago.

The emergency law gave authorities broad leeway to arrest citizens and hold them indefinitely without charges, according to Human Rights Watch. It was first enacted in 1958.

Although it was suspended during the rule of President Anwar Sadat, it had been in place since Mubarak took power in 1981, according to the group.

Abolishing the emergency law was on top of the lists of demands announced by pro-democracy protesters during the 2011 uprising.

The law was partially suspended by the country's military rulers early this year, but critics said that move didn't go far enough.