Egypt’s parliament was hanging in legal limbo on Wednesday after the top court overruled a presidential decree reinstating the dissolved house, intensifying a power struggle between the president and the army.
“The battle for power centred on the judiciary,” read the headline of independent daily Al-Watan.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Constitutional Court annulled a decree by newly elected President Mohamed Morsi reinstating the Islamist-led lower house of parliament, after ruling last month that it was invalid.
“The court ordered the freeze of the president’s decree,” a judicial source said, adding that it “ordered that its previous ruling be implemented.”
On Sunday, Morsi had ordered parliament back and invited it to convene. Taking its cue from the president, the People’s Assembly met on Tuesday.
Published 11 July 2012, 20:12 IST