A court case challenging the dissolution of Egypt's parliament was dismissed Saturday by a court the president's allies had turned to for a ruling in a simmering row between the newly elected leader and the judiciary, dpa reported.
State TV reported that the Court of Cassation Saturday had said it would be outside of its jurisdiction to review a June 14 ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court invalidating the lower house of parliament.
Legislators had appealed to that court, arguing that it - and not the Supreme Constitutional Court - had the authority in the question of a parliamentary dissolution.
The dismissal is only likely to heat up the dispute between Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and the judiciary
The June 14 ruling was widely seen as an attack upon the Islamist-dominated legislature, which was only seated earlier this year after strong showings in recent elections. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood holds nearly half of the parliamentary seats.
The Brotherhood was largely kept out of power under the former rule of Hosny Mubarak and most members feel the military, which has run the government since Mubarak's ouster, is uncomfortable with the Brotherhood.
Morsi last week reinstated the chamber, triggering a row with the country's judiciary and the powerful military, which has enforced the dissolution ruling.
The army generals, who ruled Egypt until Morsi's inauguration, have called for state institutions to "respect" constitutional statutes, a veiled statement of opposition of the president's move.
Morsi, who took office late last month as Egypt's first freely elected civilian president, decreed that the legislature would reconvene - it had a short session Tuesday - and called for an early parliamentary election 60 days after a permanent constitution being drafted is approved in a referendum.
Legal experts have offered differing views on whether Morsi has the right to recall the parliament.