Egypt: President Morsi annuls dissolution of parliament
An Egyptian man holds a chair with a portrait of president-elect Mohamed Morsi, as others wave their national flags, during a rally in Tahrir Square in Cairo on June 29, 2012 as crowds of Egyptians wait to hear Morsi address his supporters on the eve of his swearing-in as Egypt’s first civilian president.
Egypt's newly elected President Mohammed Morsi today issued a decree ordering the country's Islamist-led parliament to reconvene, in a what was described a surprise move.
The Egyptian parliament was dissolved a month ago by the military council, on the basis of a controversial ruling by the Supreme Court, the Associated Press reported.
"President Morsi has issued a presidential decree annulling the decision taken on June 15, 2012 to dissolve the people's assembly, and invites the chamber to convene again and to exercise its prerogatives," the official MENA news agency said, according to Agence France-Presse.
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The report by MENA said the presidential decree stipulates "the organization of elections for the chamber, 60 days after the approval by referendum of the country's new constitution and the adoption of a new law regulating parliament."
According to the BBC, the decision by Morsi could "put him on a collision course" with Egypt's military council.
Military leaders met today for an emergency session to discuss Morsi's decision.
Officials with the Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi's party, said parliament could reconvene as early as Monday.
Egypt's first freely elected president took the oath of office on June 30, marking a pivotal moment for a country wracked by over a year of political upheaval. Morsi that day defied the country's military rulers by reading the oath of office in Tahrir Square.
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