40. On 15 October 2012 the Secretariat received a Note No 57/12 from the Respondent State requesting that consideration of the Communication should be postponed till further notice pending the adoption of a new Constitution for the Arab Republic of Egypt. 41. The Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the Respondent State’s request by Note Verbale Ref: ACHPR/COMM/355/07/998/12 and notified the Complainants about the request by Letter Ref: ACHPR/COMM/355/07/999/12 both evenly dated 7 November 2012. The Complainants were also informed that a decision on the merits had been deferred during the 52nd Ordinary Session held from 9 – 22 October 2012 pending submissions from the Respondent State. 42. During the 13th Extraordinary Session held from 18 to 25 February 2012, the Commission declined the Respondent State’s request as at paragraph 40 hereof. Both parties were notified of the Commission’s decision respectively by Note Verbale and Letter Refs: ACHPR/COMM/355/07/183/13 and ACHPR/COMM/355/07/208/13 evenly dated 1 March 2013. The Respondent State was requested to present its observations on the merits within one month. 43. During the 53rd Ordinary Session held from 9 – 23 April 2013 the Commission decided to proceed to consider the Communication with a view to taking a decision on the merits based on the Complainants’ submissions, the Respondent State having not presented its observation by that Session. Both parties were informed about the Commission’s decision by Note Verbale and Letter Refs: ACHPR/COMM/355.07/473/13 and ACHPR/COMM/355.07/472/13 dated 30 April 2013. 44. On 30 April 2013 the Secretariat received the Respondent State’s merit submission under Note Ref: PA 203/232/01/PART VII/ (7-MS) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia. On 9 May 2013 the Secretariat acknowledged receipt and requested the Respondent State to resend the submissions under the latter’s letter head. 45. On 13 May 2013 the Respondent State retransmitted its merit submissions under Note No. 67/13. The Secretariat acknowledged receipt by Note Verbale Ref: ACHPR/COMM/355/07/648/13 dated 28 May 2013. 46. The Respondent State’s merit submissions were transmitted to the Complainants by Letter Ref: ACHPR/COMM/355/07/648/13 dated 28 May 2013. 47. On 4 July 2013 the Secretariat received the Complainant Reply to the Respondent State’s observations on the merits of the Communication, and 6