An Egyptian court has postponed a decision on the fate of the panel tasked with writing the country's new constitution, pushing back the decision until next week amid an increasingly strident debate over the charter.

A High Administrative Court official says the panel of judges will issue its ruling Oct. 23 on a number of legal challenges to the make-up of the 100-member constitutional assembly, which is dominated by Islamists. A decision had been widely expected Tuesday.

Many secularists, liberals and women's rights groups are still haggling over the charter, disputing articles that will determine the role of religion in the nation's affairs and the independence of the judiciary.

The same court â€" but different judges â€" dissolved a previous constitutional panel in June over its make-up.