Egypt top court suspends work after pro-Morsi protests

Egypt’s top court said it has suspended its work “indefinitely” after protesters supporting President Mohamed Morsi surrounded the courthouse on Sunday. The Supreme Constitutional Court said the suspension of the court sessions was in protest of what it called “pressures.” Riot police stand guard behind a gate in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court during a rally by supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi in Maadi, south of Cairo, December 2, 2012. The court was due to examine the legality of the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly that drafted the country’s new constitution. But several hundred protested outside the court building. In recent days, about 30 Christian, liberal and secular members have boycotted the constituent assembly to protest what they call the hijacking of the process by President Morsi’s supporters, who dominate the assembly. Any ruling from the court would have been a direct challenge to the president, who last month gave himself sweeping new powers, placing himself and the constitutional assembly above any oversight, including by the judiciary. Morsi has said the decree of extreme powers would end immediately once the people vote on the constitution in a national referendum set for December 15. The president announced the date after the assembly handed its final draft of the constitution to him late Saturday. The draft constitution retains the principles of Islamic law as the main source of legislation. Earlier Saturday, tens of thousands of Islamists demonstrated across Egypt in support of Morsi and the draft constitution, demanding the implementation of what they called “God’s law.” The Muslim Brotherhood called for the rallies. The president is a former member of the once-banned group. Also Saturday, thousands of protesters demonstrated in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for a ninth straight day against the president and the draft constitution. They have been voicing opposition to the decree that gave the president extraordinary powers.