A supporter of President Mohamed Morsy flashes the victory sign at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Monday. — ReutersSpeaker defies army, calls parliament TuesdayCAIRO — Egypt's parliamentary speaker said the chamber would reconvene Tuesday after the new president risked a showdown with the generals by quashing their decision to dissolve the assembly last month. Quoted by the state news agency Monday, Saad Al-Katatni, who like President Mohamed Morsy hails from Muslim Brotherhood, said the lower house would sit from noon (1000 GMT) Tuesday, defying the army's order to dismiss parliament a month ago based on a court ruling. Morsy issued his decree to recall parliament Sunday barely a week after he took office. That threatened fresh uncertainty for a nation whose economy is on the ropes and where many are anxious for calm after 17 turbulent months since the fall of Hosni Mubarak. Yet Morsy and Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the military council, showed no hint of discord Monday when the president, as he did last week, attended a military parade. Seated next to each other, Morsy and Tantawi turned to each other in a brief jovial exchange, television images showed. The powerful military, meanwhile, delivered a thinly veiled warning to Morsi, saying it trusted that all state institutions will respect the constitutional declarations issued by the military during its 16 months in power since the fall of Mubarak. The Supreme Constitutional Court, whose ruling led to parliament being dissolved, asserted that its decisions were final and binding, in a statement issued after the court met in emergency session in response to Morsy's decree. The court also said it would review cases challenging the constitutionality of Morsy's decree Tuesday. The Egyptian Social Democratic Party, which has a handful of seats in parliament, condemned the president's recall of the assembly, saying it was a “violation of the judicial power" and resembled the high-handed approach long seen from the army. About 1,000 people gathered in Cairo's prosperous Nasser City suburb to protest Morsy's decision. The Brotherhood called on its website for a show of support for Morsy on the street Tuesday. It, however, played down any dispute. “We affirm that there is no confrontation with the judiciary and the decision respects the verdict of the constitutional court," said presidential aide Yasser Ali. Katatni said parliament would discuss Tuesday “how to implement the court ruling" that declared the assembly void and a legal committee would be asked to draw up proposals. In a further sign the generals may not challenge Morsy head on, the state news agency reported that guards at parliament had allowed some members into the building Monday. It had been declared off limits when the army ordered the chamber dissolved. — Agencies
