Egypt's top court ruled Sunday that the country's Islamist-dominated Muslim Brotherhood-led upper house of parliament was illegally elected, according to reports. However, the court says the body will not be dissolved until a new parliament is chosen.
Egypt has faced a string of court cases challenging official institutions.
The upper house, elected as a consultative assembly on a 7 percent turnout, has angered the opposition by broaching areas of controversy since it assumed legislative powers in December, Reuters notes.
The ruling, issued Sunday, also found unconstitutional the president's powers under a state of emergency.
The Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice party currently has 42 percent of seats in the shura council, and can carry a majority vote by appealing to other conservative factions in the chamber.
The constitutional court ruling raises the possibility that shura council legislation may also be deemed unconstitutional. The chamber is debating a number of controversial bills this month, including a draft law that would heavily restrict the funding available to develop a free civil society.
The rulings are the latest in a series of challenges between the government and Egypt's judiciary.
"The Shura Council is continuing to play its complete legislative role until the institutions of the state are completed and legislative power passes to the new parliament," the presidency said in a statement.
