Egypt military ‘warns’ President Morsy over parliament decision

Egypt’s military council has said the decision to dissolve the country’s parliament must be upheld, after new President Mohammed Morsy ordered the assembly to reopen. The military closed parliament last month after a court ruling.Its latest intervention is seen by some as a challenge and warning to the president, sworn in barely a week ago. On President Morsy’s orders, the speaker has convened a meeting of parliament yesterday.Crowds were gathering in Tahrir Square ahead of the meeting called for 10:00 (08:00 GMT), in defiance of the military’s decision.The Muslim Brotherhood - which has the biggest bloc of seats in parliament - said it would participate “in a million-man march in support of the president’s decision and reinstating parliament”.The military council said it was confident “all state institutions” would respect the law and constitution. Analysts say the political truce in Egypt appears over.‘Binding and final’The statement from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) is certain to infuriate the Muslim Brotherhood.Members of the Brotherhood believe it was the military that failed to respect the law by giving itself new powers after dissolving parliament last month.After President Morsy was sworn in, just over a week ago, a political truce seemed to come into force. But it seems the quiet days could not last. First, the new president issued an order recalling parliament - putting him directly at odds with the military council, who dissolved the assembly.Now the military have responded with what is being seen by some as a warning to the president to obey the law and the constitution. It could be the first big fight between the military and the president, since Mohamed Morsy became Egypt’s first civilian president.