Egypt: Court says dissolution of parliament is binding

Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi's order to reconvene parliament has been rejected by the country's highest court, which says its decision to dissolve the assembly is binding. Following Morsi's decree, the speaker of the dissolved house had called for the MPs to meet on Tuesday 10 July.

Morsi, whose Muslim Brotherhood won most seats, says the parliament should function until a new election is held. During a meeting on Monday 9 July, however, the country's Supreme Constitutional Court said its rulings and decisions were "final and not subject to appeal".

Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) – whose original decision to dissolve the parliament was backed by the court – met in an emergency meeting following the issue of the presidential decree on Sunday.

Despite rumours of tensions, Morsi and SCAF's Leader Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi appeared together at a military cadet graduation ceremony. Last month, SCAF enforced a court order dissolving parliament because party members had contested seats reserved for independents.

The military took power last year, after the revolution that ended former president Hosni Mubarak's 30 year reign. Over the course of the last couple months, the army has become increasingly unpopular, with many accusing its leaders of wanting to hold on to power indefinitely.

Morsi, who won the country's first free presidential election last month, was handed power on 30 June. In his presidential decree, Morsi said new parliamentary elections would be held 60 days after the constitution had been agreed by referendum.

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, Bloomberg

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