Court-dissolved Egyptian Parliament meets

CAIRO, July 10 (UPI) -- Egyptian lawmakers Tuesday defied the court and military by having a meeting of the dissolved Parliament, observing an order by President Mohamed Morsi.

During the minutes-long session, lawmakers approved a proposal by Speaker Saad el-Katatni, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, to appeal to the Court of Cassation a ruling Morsi's effort to revive Parliament was contrary to the rule of law, The New York Times reported.

In the battle of wills, the generals, with the court's backing, argued the new president must respect precedents and state institutions while Morsi called on the generals to respect results of the recent free elections, observers said.

The generals dissolved Parliament last month based on a court order, seizing lawmaking and executive authority.

Morsi Sunday called for the Islamist-led Parliament to return and el-Katatni scheduled a session for Tuesday.

Morsi and military leaders who ruled Egypt after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak last year are "two of the most powerful forces in Egypt right now. Each is seeking its own supremacy and the subordination of the other," Professor Mona el-Ghobashy, an expert on Egypt's judiciary who teaches political science at Barnard College, told the Times.

Morsi's decision Sunday was hailed by supporters as a victory for civilian rule. However, the Supreme Constitutional Court Monday said its decisions "are final and not subject to appeals."

The sides were participating in "a competitive dance," Ghobashy said.

"They're working out what the long-term settlement will be," she said. "Egyptian politics is a contest for what the new ruling formula will look like."