Audio By Carbonatix
An Egyptian administrative court has suspended general elections that were scheduled to begin next month.
It said the electoral law needed to be reviewed by the Supreme Constitutional Court to determine whether it conformed to the constitution.
President Mohammed Morsi had said the polls would begin on 22 April, taking place in four stages over two months.
The elections have been boycotted by the main opposition, amid continuing street protests.
The National Salvation Front (NSF) has said the electoral law favours Mr Morsi's Islamist allies - a claim denied by the president.
The NSF has also expressed concerns that the election will not be free and fair.
Egypt remains sharply divided between Islamists and their liberal and secular opponents.
More than 70 people have been killed in violence between security forces and protesters since February, following the second anniversary of the revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
On Wednesday, the security head in the city of Port Said was dismissed following renewed clashes between demonstrators and police.
The coastal city has seen sporadic violence since January, when death sentences were handed down to 39 people imprisoned over football violence last year which left more than 70 people dead.
Further complication
The administrative court said it had acted because the Shura Council - the upper house of parliament - had not returned the amended electoral law to the Supreme Court for final review.
Instead, the court said, the Shura Council had sent the law to President Morsi for ratification.
Mr Morsi's office has so far made no public comment on the court's decision. The president can appeal against the ruling.
Egyptian courts have made a number of decisions that have gone against the president and his Muslim Brotherhood movement, further complicating the country's political crisis.
In June, the lower house was dissolved after the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that one of the laws under which the elections were fought was not legitimate.
In the last elections, in January 2012, Islamist parties won an overwhelming majority, with the Freedom and Justice Party of the Muslim Brotherhood movement taking the biggest share.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Unemployed man gets six-month jail term for committing three offences
13 minutes -
Chaos mar NDC branch elections in Assin Central Constituency
3 hours -
Wontumi knew he would be convicted – Appiah-Kubi
3 hours -
GIMPA graduates tasks to master modern digital tools to be competitive
4 hours -
Oti High Court adjourns NPP Krachi East Organiser election dispute to October
4 hours -
Court issues bench warrant for man accused of threatening EOCO staff
4 hours -
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang engages Ghanaians in Maryland, United States
4 hours -
UG graduates urged to uphold integrity, excellence
4 hours -
Gabonese President to begin three-day official visit to Ghana on July 28
4 hours -
Accra-Tema residents advocate stricter enforcement of sanitation laws
4 hours -
Financing key to unlocking Africa’s energy potential – John Jinapor
4 hours -
Opoku-Agyemang delivers keynote address at Sister Cities International 70th anniversary
4 hours -
Government urged to establish community autism units
4 hours -
Mahama leads Ghanaians to mark 14th Anniversary of Prof Mills’ passing
4 hours -
Police urge peaceful Homowo celebration, warn against violence
4 hours