Just two days before the runoff between Hosni Mubarak- era symbol and Muslim Brotherhood’ candidate, Egypt’s top court annulled the parliament as it allowed Mubarak’s last premier to stand in the electoral contest.
The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that the Brotherhood-dominated parliament must be dissolved and that former premier Ahmad Shafiq must be allowed to go on the presidential race.
The rulings, two days ahead of the fiercely contested election between the Brotherhood's Mohammed Mursi and Shafiq, could throw the country into further political turmoil.
The military council, which took power when Mubarak was ousted, has vowed to cede power to civilian rule after a president is elected.
MILITARY ASSUMES POWER
A military source said the court's ruling technically meant that the military would assume legislative powers.
"We don't want it (the power) but according to the court decision and that law, it reverts back to us," AFP quoted the source as saying.
The head of the constitutional court, Faruq Sultan, told AFP that the decision "voids" parliament and must be respected by the authorities.
"It voids parliament, not in the meaning of dissolves," he said. "But the constitutional court's ruling is binding on all state authorities and all people," he said.
REACTIONS
Egyptian activists and political figures accused the military of a "coup" after the court decisions.
Mohammed al-Beltagi, a senior member of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which dominates parliament, called the court's decision on parliament part of a "military coup."
A series of measures, including giving the military powers of arrest, and then the court ruling were "a complete coup through which the military council erases the most honorable period in this nation's history," he said in a statement.
FJP leaders went into a closed meeting after the court's decision to consider their next option, one of them told AFP.
For his part, Mursi said he "respects the ruling, even if dissatisfied" with the decision on the political isolation law.
"I love the military forces," Mursi said, indicating "there [are] some who seek, strive for, and plan ill against the people."
Outside the court dozens of people gathered amid heavy security to demand the application of the law.
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