Egyptian candidates prep for debate

CAIRO, May 10 (UPI) -- An administrative court's effort to suspend Egypt's upcoming presidential election is considered a procedural matter, officials said.

The New York Times said candidates continued their campaigns Wednesday in preparation for Thursday night's televised debate.

Hatem Ammer, head of the Benha Administrative Court, said their Wednesday court ruling was against the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission's call for elections. He said only the Supreme Council for Armed Forces, the military-led transitional government, has the authority to call citizens to vote in the upcoming presidential elections, Ahram Online reported Thursday.

Ammer said the electoral commission only has authority to call candidates to nomination.

Judge Magdy El-Garhi, deputy head of State Council, said the commission's error can be rectified by the head of the SCAF calling citizens to vote on May 23, Ahram Online said.