Libya parliament rejects court ruling to invalidate it

Libya's internationally recognized parliament on Thursday rejected the ruling of a Supreme Court to invalidate it, saying it was elected based on the will of the Libyan people.
"The House of representatives rejected the ruling of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court in these circumstances ... and it's still working as is the government elected on June 25, " the parliament said in an official statement.
"The parliament was elected by the people in free polls ... and the referred constitutional amendment that would dissolve the parliament is not correct and illegal," the statement said.
Libya's constitutional court early Thursday declared the June 25 vote, which elected the House of Representatives, as invalid, the official LANA agency reported.
Some local media speculated that the court decision might be a result of pressure from Libya Dawn, an Islamist armed alliance currently controlling the capital of Tripoli.
Libya has been witnessing a frayed political process and juggling two rival parliaments and governments. Thursday's ruling was seen as a move by Islamists to abandon the elected parliament and legalize the old one, the interim General National Congress, which was dominated by Islamists.
The old parliament, whose mandate was to end upon election of the new one in accordance with Libya's transition plan, has refused to disband, with backing from the Islamist armed alliance Libya Dawn.
Libya Dawn, which achieved a series of military advances lately in Tripoli and surrounding areas, has also been instrumental in the formation of a new cabinet by the old parliament.