Egypt’s dissolved house meets, defying court ruling

Egypt’s Islamist-dominated parliament convened on Tuesday in defiance of the powerful military and the judiciary, following a decree by newly elected President Mohamed Morsi to reinstate the assembly. “We are gathered today to review the court rulings, the ruling of the Supreme Constitutional Court,” which ordered the court invalid, speaker Saad al-Katatni said. “I want to stress, we are 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. MPs from several political parties boycotted Tuesday’s session, with some describing Morsi’s move as a “constitutional coup.” Katatni insisted during a brief opening statement, which was aired live on television, that the house “respects the law and judicial rulings.” Last month, the Supreme Constitutional Court had said certain articles in the law governing the parliamentary elections were invalid, annulling the Islamist-led house. The military, which was running the country after Hosni Mubarak was ousted, then dissolved the house and took legislative control, as part of a document that granted the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces sweeping powers. But Morsi on Sunday ordered the lower house to reconvene.