Egypt's president-elect Mursi with police gen
Egypt's president-elect Mursi with police genReuters

An Egyptian court has suspended the decree allowing the military to arrest civilians.

The order, issued Tuesday by an administrative court, stops military police and intelligence officers from arresting activists, human rights advocates and others.

In its ruling, the court stated the decree was in contradiction with the Constitutional principles that existed from 1923 until the March 2011 Constitutional declaration.

The ruling came in the wake of lawsuits filed by politicians and others who considered the decree to be a violation of the Criminal Procedure Code and the law of military judiciary.

Meanwhile, President-elect Mohamed Mursi is continuing discussions with high-ranking police officers, Attorney General Judge Mahmoud Abdel Meguid and families of “the revolution's martyrs” to form a new government, Egyptian media report.

Mursi spokesman Yasser Alli told the Egyptian Middle East News Agency (MENA) “There are still ongoing discussions as to who will head the new government.” The new president-elect also met with members of judicial authorities, the Supreme Judicial Council, Al Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed Tayeb and Grand Mufti Ali Goma'a. On Tuesday, he met with Egyptian Coptic Bishop Beshoy and Bishop Bakhomious in his office at the presidential palace as well.