Libya court rules parliament as illegal

Libya's constitutional court Thursday invalidated the country's internationally recognised parliament.

The court declared the June 25 vote, which elected the House of Representatives, as invalid, Xinhua reported.

Thursday's ruling was seen as a move by Islamists to abandon the elected parliament and legalise the old one, the interim General National Congress.

Local witnesses said that after the announcement some Islamist militants stationed in Tripoli fired bullets into the sky to celebrate.

The old parliament, whose mandate was to end upon election of the new one in accordance with Libya's transitional plan, has refused to disband with backing from 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.