As polls close, Egypt’s ruling military council issues interim constitution

CAIRO — State television says the ruling military council has issued an interim “constitutional declaration,” a move that formally hands the generals legislative powers following the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated parliament.

The television’s brief report Sunday gave no details, saying only that the military council will give details at a news conference the next day.

The widely anticipated declaration is expected to lay out the powers of the next president and give the generals the final say on the process of drafting a new constitution for the country.

Leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, which controls just under half of parliament’s seats, rejected the court’s ruling and insist the military does not have the right to issue the interim constitutional declaration or form the assembly to write a permanent one.

Polling stations throughout Egypt closed at 10 PM Israel time, marking the end of an historic presidential runoff election that pitted Islamist candidate Mohammed Morsi against Mubarak-era prime minister Ahmed Shafiq. Official results are expected on Thursday, although preliminary results may be available as early as Monday.