Egypt court rules against recalling legislature
By HAMZA HENDAWI Associated Press July 10, 2012 9:18AM
Officials are seen in the Egyptian parliament in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 9, 2012. The speaker of Egypt's Islamist-dominated parliament called Monday for the legislature to meet this week, raising the stakes in a tense standoff with the powerful military which backed a court ruling to dissolve the chamber. (AP Photo/Mohammed Asad)
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Updated: July 10, 2012 1:17PM
CAIRO — Egypt’s highest court has ruled against a decree by the Islamist president recalling the country’s dissolved parliament.
The ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court came hours after the 508-seat chamber held a brief session after being called to reconvene by President Mohammed Morsi. They voted to seek further judicial opinions on the court’s decision that invalidated a third of the lawmakers because of voting irregularities.
Tuesday’s ruling should deepen the showdown between Morsi and the powerful military, which disbanded the legislature on June 15. The military later rushed a series of decrees that gave it wide powers while reducing those of the new president.
News of the verdict was greeted with chants of “batel,” or illegitimate, by thousands of Morsi supporters gathered at Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
