Egypt's top court on Sunday, Dec 2 postponed a session during which it was expected to rule on the legitimacy of the Islamist-dominated panel that rushed to approve a disputed draft constitution last week, according to officials at the court.

The officials cited "administrative reasons" for the delay, although the announcement came as several thousand supporters of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi surrounded the Supreme Constitutional Court, holding aloft placards denouncing the judges and preventing members of the judiciary from entering the Nile-side courthouse in Cairo.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, did not know whether a new date has been set for the ruling, which is part of a worsening political crisis in Egypt pitting the largely secular opposition and powerful judiciary against Morsi and his fellow Islamists.

The MENA state news agency said the judges are expected to issue a statement later Sunday to explain their position.

The protesters began to gather outside the court on Saturday night and the officials said the judges did not show up at the court on Sunday out of fear for their safety, Associated Press reported.