Trump would have been convicted of election interference, DoJ report says    Dramatic showdown looms in South Korea as Yoon faces possible arrest    Next 24 hours critical for ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza    Spain plans 100% tax for homes bought by non-EU residents    Russia forms emergency task force as Kerch Strait oil spill spreads    Record label takes legal action against K-pop band    Tenth Saudi relief plane for Syrians arrives at Damascus airport    SR12.7 billion allocated for beneficiaries of Golden Handshake Program for 3 years    Saudi-Japanese Business Council discusses strengthening investment partnerships    Energy minister unveils Saudi Arabia's plans to enrich and sell uranium    CEO Nasser: Saudi Aramco aims to increase energy production by 70%    Saudi Arabia offers new benefits to importers and exporters    Meghan Netflix show delayed over LA wildfires    Justice minister discusses ways to enhance cooperation with UN Resident Coordinator    Al Orobah sign Saudi Pro League's all-time top scorer Omar Al Somah    Al Hilal thrash Al Orobah 5-0 to reclaim Roshn Saudi League top spot    Al Ittihad held to 1-1 draw by Al Fayha, lose Saudi League top spot    Al-Ahli defeats Al-Shabab 3-2 in Saudi Pro League thriller    SFDA warns of potential risks associated with high doses of Ginseng    Oscar nominations postponed because of LA fires    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    









Court throws Egyptian election into confusion
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 03 - 2013

CAIRO — An Egyptian court threw the timetable for parliamentary elections into confusion Wednesday, ordering the cancelation of President Mohamed Morsi's decree calling the vote and forcing a likely delay to polls due to start in April.
The Administrative Court's ruling deepened Egypt's political uncertainty at a time of social unrest and economic crisis, with the nation's foreign currency reserves at critically low levels and the budget deficit soaring.
The court said it had referred Egypt's amended electoral law, under which the lower house polls are due to be held, to the Supreme Constitutional Court for review.
Egypt has been torn by political confusion and strife since the 2011 uprising that deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Many opposition parties had announced they would boycott the vote, which had been due to be held in four stages from April 22 until late June.
The presidency will appeal the court's decision, legal advisor Mohamed Gadallah said.
“The presidency respects the administrative court's decision and will stop the call for parliamentary elections. We are in a democratic system that respects the rule of law,” he said Wednesday.
“Having said that, there will be an appeal of the court's decision filed by the State Judiciary Authority which represents the presidency and the government.”
The court ruling cameas the government said it wants to resume talks with the International Monetary Fund on a $4.8 billion loan to shore up Egypt's finances.
“It is now likely that elections will be postponed, extending political uncertainties and further delaying a possible IMF deal at a time when restoring confidence in the economy is needed to avert a potential economic crisis,” said Farouk Soussa, chief economist at Citi in Dubai.
The Freedom and Justice Party, the party of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, said in a statement it respected the court's decision.
The court made its ruling on technical grounds, saying in a statement that the Shoura Council, Egypt's upper house of parliament, had not returned the amended electoral law to the Supreme Constitutional Court for final review before passing it.
Egyptian courts have made a number of rulings that have gone against Morsi and his ruling Muslim Brotherhood. The previous Islamist-dominated lower house was dissolved by a court ruling that struck down the original electoral law under which the chamber had been elected.
Violence has frequently flared in Egyptian cities, notably late last year over a decree in which Morsi temporarily gave himself sweeping powers.
Youths fought police in the Suez Canal city of Port Said for a fourth day Wednesday.
Security officials said the head of security in Port Said has been sacked. Mohsen Radi was relieved of his duties and transferred to the prison services department in Cairo “in response to demands by residents and to help calm the situation,” one of the officials said. — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.