Egypt’s Supreme Administrative Court began hearings Sunday on an appeal lodged on behalf of Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi against a lower court’s cancellation of a controversial parliamentary election he had called for April.

Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court began hearings Sunday on an appeal lodged on behalf of Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi against a lower court's cancellation of a controversial parliamentary election he had called for April.

The Egyptian State Lawsuit Authority lodged the appeal against the March 6 court order on Wednesday, arguing that Mursi had acted within his sovereign powers when he called the election.

The lower court had ruled the president's decree invalid because he had ratified a new electoral law for the vote without sending it to the top court, as required by the constitution.

A judicial body which advises the Supreme Court has recommended that it uphold the lower court's decision.

The appeal came despite earlier statements from both Mursi and the Muslim
Brotherhood insisting they would not challenge the ruling.

Egypt's main opposition bloc, the National Salvation Front, had already announced it would boycott the election, expressing doubts over its transparency and demanding a new electoral law.