Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) says it is halting all work indefinitely on "the blackest day in the history of the Egyptian judiciary" after Islamist protesters prevented the judges from meeting in Cairo to rule on a draft constitution. Sunday's developments escalated tensions between the judiciary and President Mohamed Morsi who issued a controversial constitutional declaration last week.

Egyptians riot police stand outside the Supreme Constitutional Court as supporters of president Mohammed Morsi protest on December 2, 2012 in Cairo. (Photo: AFP)

The SCC was scheduled to meet on Sunday to consider the legality of the election rules of the Shura Assembly and the Constituent Assembly. But the judges were denied entry by demonstrators outside the building, following which they postponed the session and announced the court’s indefinite suspension.