Egypt’s top court says ruling on parliament is ‘binding’

Egypt's highest court asserted on Monday that the ruling that disbanded parliament last month is final and binding, according to Egypt's state media, said the Associated Press.

The court said in a statement, "All the rulings and decisions of the Supreme Constitutional Court are final and not subject to appeal… and are binding for all state institutions," according to Agence France Presse.

On Sunday, President Mohammed Morsi recalled the parliament, which was dissolved last month by the tribunal. The court's assertion on Monday sets up a showdown between the court, the military and the new president.

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The court's statement came just hours after the speaker of the dissolved parliament, Saad el-Katatni, called for parliament to convene on Tuesday, said the AP.

The court had said last month that certain articles in the law governing parliamentary elections were invalid, thereby annulling parliament, according to AFP.

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The court also said 17 cases were filed protesting Morsi's reinstatement of parliament, according to CNN. "I expect the court to overrule the presidential decision tomorrow," Aly Hassan, a judicial consultant affiliated with the Justice Ministry, told CNN.

CNN reported that riot police and barriers surrounded the parliamentary building where lawmakers are due to convene at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces assumed legislative authority in June after the court ruled to dissolve parliament, so reinstating parliament would take power away from SCAF.

The BBC noted that despite the apparent tensions, Morsi appeared alongside the head of SCAF, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, at a military cadet graduation ceremony on Monday.

Before Morsi's inauguration, the military granted itself powers which included legislative powers, the power to veto the yet-to-be-drafted constitution and authority over the military, said the BBC.

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