Egypt's Supreme Judiciary Council on Sunday urged Talaat Ibrahim Abdullah to resign as prosecutor- general after his legitimacy in the post was called into question by a recent court ruling, official news agency MENA reported.

The Council also invited Abdullah to rejoin Judiciary in its remarks that came after a meeting on the court ruling that ordered to reinstate former Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud sacked late last year by President Mohamed Morsi.

The top judicial body also called on judges and prosecutors to avoid making statement for the media on the issue.

In late March, Egypt's Court of Appeal overturned a decision issued by President Mohamed Morsi in November 2012 to sack Mahmoud and appoint Abdullah.

The court also ordered Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki to take necessary procedures to reinstate Mahmoud, whose term was scheduled to end in 2016.

Morsi's decree was part of a constitutional declaration that triggered a storm of outrage in the judicial and political arenas, prompting accusations that the president was trying to interfere in judicial affairs.

On April 3, presidential spokesman Omar Amer told reporters that Abdullah will remain in office despite the court order.

For his part, Abdullah has recently described the court decision as a violation of the constitution and the law, asserting his respect for the constitutional legitimacy. Endit

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