Morsi calls elections beginning April 27

CAIRO - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on Thursday issued a presidential decree, calling on parliamentary elections to be held on April 27, official MENA news agency reported late Thursday.

It said the elections will take place in four stages and last for two months. The first stage of voting will be held in five provinces including Cairo, on April 27 and 28, with a run-off scheduled for May 4 and 5.

Earlier in the day, the Shura Council (upper house of the parliament), which temporarily holds legislative power, endorsed an amendment referred by the constitutional court over the parliamentary election law.

The amendment came after the constitutional court on Monday had rejected the parliamentary election law, deeming some of its articles as "unconstitutional."

Egypt's lower house of parliament was dissolved last year due to unconstitutionality of its vote. The Shura Council will hold full legislative authority until the lower house of the parliament is elected.