An administrative court has ruled that millions of Egyptians living abroad, deprived of the vote under Hosni Mubarak, will have the right to cast their ballots in the next parliamentary poll.
"Egyptian expatriates have the right to vote in the upcoming parliamentary election, under a ruling by the administrative court," the state-run MENA news agency reported on Tuesday.
"The Higher Electoral Commission will be responsible for taking all the necessary measures to enable Egyptians living abroad to practice this constitutional right, according to the court," MENA said.
Egyptians will begin voting on November 28 in the first parliamentary elections since a popular uprising ended president Mubarak's 30-year-rule in February.
An estimated eight million Egyptians live abroad, many of them in other Arab countries, out of a total population of 80 million.
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Several political parties and politicians have repeatedly demanded Egyptians in the diaspora be allowed to take part in the vote, a move supported by Egypt's new military rulers.
The court's decision, which could require an amendment of the electoral law, can be appealed.
The verdict came in response to a complaint by the union of expatriates, who said Egyptians should be allowed to vote at Egyptian embassies.
The foreign ministry said it would abide by any final decision.
Egypt's first parliamentary elections since the fall of Mubarak's regime will be held in 12 stages, including run-offs, over a period of four months.
Elections for members of the lower house and upper house, the People's Assembly and the Shura Council, will be divided into three stages each, with a run-off for every stage.
Voting kicks off for the People's Assembly on November 28 while the Shura Council elections are to be held from January 29.
