Egypt's government will shorten its curfew by two hours, the cabinet said on Thursday.

The curfew will last from midnight to 5 a.m. rather than 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. previously. 

The decision to shorten the curfew hours comes ahead of the new academic year which is scheduled to begin on Saturday.

The government imposed the curfew in mid-August after violent unrest that erupted following its security crackdown on two Cairo protest camps, which were set in support of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, leaving hundreds killed.

The Islamist president was toppled by the army on July 3 following mass protests against his rule.