Police surround Egyptian high court ahead of election ruling
Supreme Constitutional Court to decide on Thursday whether Shafiq can contest run-off vote
CAIRO (AP) — Hundreds of police and troops have ringed Egypt’s highest court ahead of a ruling on the country’s presidential election and the legitimacy of the new, Islamist-dominated parliament.
The Supreme Constitutional Court, housed in a Nile side structure resembling an ancient Egyptian temple, is expected to rule on Thursday on whether Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, can contest the presidential runoff vote later this week against Islamist Mohammed Morsi.
It will also decide whether to uphold a lower court’s verdict that the law that organized recent parliamentary elections was unconstitutional. If upheld, the legislature could be dissolved.
Some 200 protesters are gathered outside the court, chanting slogans against Shafiq.