Protest forces delay of Egypt's key court ruling
Updated: 2012-12-02 18:44
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
CAIRO - Protests by Islamists forced Egypt's highest court to postpone a session on Sunday set to examine the legality of the Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament and the body that drafted the new constitution, state media reported.
Supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi chant pro-Mursi slogans during a rally in the vicinity of Cairo University and Nahdet Misr Square in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo December 1, 2012. Tens of thousands of Islamists demonstrated in Cairo on Saturday in support of President Mohamed Mursi, who is racing through a constitution to try to defuse opposition fury over his newly expanded powers. [Photo/Agencies] |
The Supreme Constitutional Court did not say when it would reschedule hearings in cases that threaten to further complicate a political crisis ignited by President Mohamed Mursi's November 22 assumption of sweeping new powers.
Several hundred Muslim Brotherhood supporters chanting slogans demanding the "purging of the judiciary" had crowded outside the court building from the early hours of Sunday.
Egypt's newly empowered Islamists are deeply suspicious of the Supreme Constitutional Court, which ruled in June in favour of dissolving the Brotherhood-led lower house of parliament.
The constituent assembly, also dominated by Islamists, handed Mursi its final draft of the constitution on Saturday.
The 100-member constitutional assembly, which started work in June, finished the draft on Friday.
Mursi has called for a December 15 referendum on the draft and hopes passing the constitution will help end the crisis.
Assuming the new constitution is approved in the referendum, legislative power will pass from Mursi to the upper house.
Related Stories
Egypt to hold referendum on draft constitution 2012-12-02 08:38
Egypt finalizes constitution amid demonstrations 2012-12-01 07:50
Egypt finalizes constitution amid demonstrations 2012-12-01 07:50
Egypt's draft constitution approved by Constituent Assembly 2012-11-30 15:46
Egypt needs consensus based on confidence 2012-11-29 22:32
Egypt to finish draft constitution 2012-11-29 09:06
Today's Top News
President Xi confident in recovery from quake
H7N9 update: 104 cases, 21 deaths
Telecom workers restore links
Coal mine blast kills 18 in Jilin
Intl scholarship puts China on the map
More bird flu patients discharged
Gold loses sheen, but still a safe bet
US 'turns blind eye to human rights'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
All-out efforts to save lives |
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Poultry industry under pressure |
'Spring' in the air for NGOs? |
Boy set to drive Chinese golf |
Latest technology gets people talking |