Interim president dissolves Egypt’s Shura Council

Move by Adli Mansour meets terms of ‘road map’ set out by military ahead of Morsi’s ouster

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5 July 2013, 6:33 pm Edit

Egypt's interim president Adli Mansour speaks after being sworn in at the constitutional court in Cairo, Thursday, July 4, 2013 (photo credit: AP/Egyptian State TV)

CAIRO (AP) — State TV says the military-backed interim president has dissolved the Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament.

The television report says Adli Mansour, sworn in as head of state a day earlier, issued the order dissolving the Shura Council in a constitutional declaration.

The Shura Council is normally a largely powerless body that does not legislate. But under the presidency of the now toppled Mohammed Morsi, it took up lawmaking powers because the lower house had been dissolved previously by court order.

The council was overwhelmingly dominated by Morsi’s allies.

Morsi was ousted Wednesday night by the military, which also suspended the Islamist-drafted constitution. The move was part of the military’s “road map” for placating opposition protesters ahead of Morsi’s ouster.