An Egyptian court on Tuesday halted a move to create a new constitutional assembly pending a ruling on its legality, challenging the legitimacy of a body spurned by liberal and Christian groups because of its domination by Islamists. The injunction slapped on the decision by parliament could delay the introduction of a constitution needed urgently to clarify the powers of Egypt's new head of state, due to take over from ruling generals by mid-year.
Lawyers for the state say the court has no say over the move to form the constituent assembly, which has pressed ahead with its work even though dozens of non-Islamist representatives have quit, complaining that their voices are being drowned out. The latest dent to the body's authority drew a measured response from the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement which holds most seats in parliament and chairs the assembly.