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Egypt's parliament convenes despite dissolution Egypt's parliament convenes despite dissolution
(40 minutes later)
Egypt's parliament has briefly convened, despite the ruling military council ordering it to be dissolved.Egypt's parliament has briefly convened, despite the ruling military council ordering it to be dissolved.
The country's new President, Mohammed Mursi, had ordered the assembly to meet in defiance of the ruling.The country's new President, Mohammed Mursi, had ordered the assembly to meet in defiance of the ruling.
Earlier, the council said the decision to dissolve parliament had to be upheld. The military closed parliament last month after a court ruling. Earlier, the council said the decision to dissolve parliament must be upheld. The military closed parliament last month after a supreme court ruling.
Its latest intervention is seen by some as a challenge and warning to Mr Mursi, who was sworn in only a week ago.Its latest intervention is seen by some as a challenge and warning to Mr Mursi, who was sworn in only a week ago.
It could be the first confrontation between the military and the president since Mr Mursi's election.It could be the first confrontation between the military and the president since Mr Mursi's election.
Speaker Saad al-Katatni said by holding the assembly, MPs were not contradicting the ruling, "but looking at a mechanism for the implementation of the ruling of the respected court. There is no other agenda today," he added, before adjourning the session. Speaker Saad al-Katatni said by holding the assembly, MPs were not contradicting the ruling, "but looking at a mechanism for the implementation of the ruling of the respected court. There is no other agenda today," he added.
Crowds were gathering in Tahrir Square ahead of the meeting called for 10:00 (08:00 GMT) in defiance of the military's decision. The MPs approved Mr Katatni's proposal that the parliament seek legal advice from a high appeals court on how to implement the supreme court's ruling. He then adjourned the session.
The Muslim Brotherhood - Mr Mursi's power base, which has the biggest bloc of seats in parliament - said it would participate on Tuesday "in a million-man march in support of the president's decision and reinstating parliament". The demonstration that was due to be held in Tahrir Square in defiance of the military's decision does not seem to have gone ahead, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo.
The Muslim Brotherhood - Mr Mursi's power base, which has the biggest bloc of seats in parliament - had said it would participate on Tuesday "in a million-man march in support of the president's decision and reinstating parliament".
The military council said it was confident "all state institutions" would respect the law and constitution.The military council said it was confident "all state institutions" would respect the law and constitution.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says the political truce in Egypt appears to be over.
It is unclear how events will unfold as the situation - with the new president elected without a new constitution being drafted, and the parliament theoretically dissolved - is unprecedented, analysts say.It is unclear how events will unfold as the situation - with the new president elected without a new constitution being drafted, and the parliament theoretically dissolved - is unprecedented, analysts say.
'Binding and final''Binding and final'
The statement from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) will infuriate the Muslim Brotherhood, our correspondent says.The statement from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) will infuriate the Muslim Brotherhood, our correspondent says.
Members of the Brotherhood believe it was the military that failed to respect the law by giving itself new powers after dissolving parliament last month, he adds.Members of the Brotherhood believe it was the military that failed to respect the law by giving itself new powers after dissolving parliament last month, he adds.
Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Constitutional Court rejected the decree issued by Mr Mursi the day before to reconvene the Islamist-dominated parliament.Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Constitutional Court rejected the decree issued by Mr Mursi the day before to reconvene the Islamist-dominated parliament.
The court said its 14 June ruling - that the law governing Egypt's first democratic elections in more than six decades was unconstitutional because party members were allowed to contest seats in the lower house reserved for independents - was binding and final.The court said its 14 June ruling - that the law governing Egypt's first democratic elections in more than six decades was unconstitutional because party members were allowed to contest seats in the lower house reserved for independents - was binding and final.
As the court had not itself ordered the dissolution of parliament, Mr Mursi was not directly challenging a court order, our correspondent says.As the court had not itself ordered the dissolution of parliament, Mr Mursi was not directly challenging a court order, our correspondent says.
No mention was made of the court's ruling in the decree. And presidential spokesman Yasir Ali argued that Mr Mursi had been quite legitimate in suspending the dissolution until new parliamentary elections took place within 60 days of a new constitution being ratified. No mention was made of the court's ruling in the decree. And presidential spokesman Yasir Ali argued Mr Mursi had been quite legitimate in suspending the dissolution until new parliamentary elections took place within 60 days of a new constitution being ratified.
Despite the apparent tensions, the president and Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads Scaf, appeared together at a military cadet graduation ceremony on Monday.Despite the apparent tensions, the president and Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads Scaf, appeared together at a military cadet graduation ceremony on Monday.
'Waste of authority''Waste of authority'
The president's order has not, however, been welcomed by political rivals.The president's order has not, however, been welcomed by political rivals.
Former presidential candidate Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh was said to have denounced his move as unconstitutional while another, Hamdin Sabbahi, was quoted as saying it was a "waste of legal authority". Former presidential candidate Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh said Mr Mursi's decision a subtle way out of that confrontation.
"Respect for the popular will by restoring the elected parliament and respect for the judiciary by holding parliamentary elections is the way out of this crisis," he wrote on Twitter.
Liberal MP Mohammed Abu Hamed urged Scaf to challenge what he called "this constitutional coup".Liberal MP Mohammed Abu Hamed urged Scaf to challenge what he called "this constitutional coup".
The constitutional court is due to hear a number of appeals against the decree on Tuesday, reports say.The constitutional court is due to hear a number of appeals against the decree on Tuesday, reports say.
Mr Mursi won the country's first free presidential election last month, and army chiefs formally handed over power on 30 June.Mr Mursi won the country's first free presidential election last month, and army chiefs formally handed over power on 30 June.
Before Mr Mursi's inauguration, the military granted itself sweeping powers.Before Mr Mursi's inauguration, the military granted itself sweeping powers.
The commanders' constitutional declaration stripped the president of any authority over the military, gave military chiefs legislative powers, and the power to veto the new constitution, which has yet to be drafted.The commanders' constitutional declaration stripped the president of any authority over the military, gave military chiefs legislative powers, and the power to veto the new constitution, which has yet to be drafted.
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