Former prosecutor general Abdel Maguid Mahmoud confirmed on Wednesday that his appeal against the president’s decision to sack him is ongoing for the sake of defending Egypt's judicial independence.

An appeals court ordered earlier today the reinstatement of Mahmoud, annulling President Mohamed Mursi’s decision to replace the Hosni Mubarak-era appointee with a new one.

“Today’s ruling is a victory for the judiciary and its independence. This is not about who is holding the post - what is important is not to attack the judiciary," the former prosecutor general told Aswat Masriya on Wednesday.

Mahmoud, who was sacked through a Mursi decree that was met with protests and outrage from the opposition, predicts that the state will challenge today’s ruling.

A judicial source has told Aswat Masriya that only the president and the justice minister have the authority to challenge today's ruling.

Meanwhile, an advisor to the Mursi-appointed prosecutor general said earlier on Wednesday that Talaat Ibrahim will remain in his position by virtue of the law.