A court in Egypt has suspended the panel appointed last month to draft the country's new constitution.
Lawyers and liberal political parties had filed a complaint accusing the Islamist-majority parliament, which formed the panel, of having abused its powers.
Some two dozen members have quit the panel, protesting the selection process.
The 100-member panel is divided between parliamentarians and public figures.
But Islamists from the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafist Nour party have a near-majority in the body.
Once the panel has produced a draft constitution, it is to be put to a referendum.
Lawyers and liberal political parties had filed a complaint accusing the Islamist-majority parliament, which formed the panel, of having abused its powers.
Some two dozen members have quit the panel, protesting the selection process.
The 100-member panel is divided between parliamentarians and public figures.
But Islamists from the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafist Nour party have a near-majority in the body.
Once the panel has produced a draft constitution, it is to be put to a referendum.
