Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court on Thursday (June 27th) issued a ruling limiting the military's power to arrest civilians, AFP reported.

Responding to an appeal by 17 rights groups, the court suspended a justice ministry decision that had granted the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) the right to arrest people for "resisting the rulers and insulting them".

Meanwhile, the head of the Military Judicial Authority, Adel al-Mursi, said the SCAF decree was necessary after the state of emergency expired in May. The right to arrest civilians was previously held solely by the police.

The court's decisions regarding the military's dissolution of parliament and the constitutionality of the assembly appointed to draft Egypt's new constitution were postponed until July and September, respectively.