Egypt court refers electoral law to Constitutional Court

Egypt's Administrative Court said on Wednesday that it had referred the country's amended electoral law to the Supreme Constitutional Court for review.
                     
Earlier, it threw the timetable for lower house parliamentary elections due to start on April 22 into confusion when it ordered the cancellation of President Mohamed Morsi's decree calling the four-stage polls.                             

The court ordered the cancellation of a decree issued by President Mohamed Morsi that had called parliamentary elections starting April 22, the court said in a statement.                                

The administrative court said the reason behind the cancellation was that the Shura Council, Egypt's upper house of parliament, did not return the amended electoral law to the Supreme Constitutional Court for final review before passing it.                                  

This as, clashes between protesters and police have broken out in this restive Egyptian port city despite efforts by the military to separate the two sides.
                        
Military police deployed around a government complex where demonstrators have been camped out for weeks. The military removed protester tents to try to prevent renewed violence after three days of clashes that left six people dead, including three policemen.                

Protesters angry about what they say is the excessive use of force by police have also torched three government buildings in the recent unrest.  
                            
Despite the military's efforts Wednesday, protesters hurled stones at police, prompting the police to respond with tear gas.                   

The military first deployed to Port Said in January to protect key state institutions after an earlier round of street turmoil rocked the city.


AP/REUTERS