Egypt's top court says it has suspended its work indefinitely to protest 'pressures'

CAIRO - Egypt's top court says it has suspended its work indefinitely to protest "psychological pressures."

The Supreme constitutional Court's announcement Sunday comes hours after it postponed a ruling on the legitimacy of an Islamist-dominated panel that drafted a disputed new constitution for the country.

Several thousand supporters of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi have gathered outside the Nile-side courthouse in Cairo to prevent the judges from entering.

The court said in a statement it cannot work in a "climate filled with hatred" and that its judges could not enter the courthouse Sunday because they feared for their safety.

The judges also were expected to rule to on the legitimacy of another Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament, or the Shura Council.