CAIRO, Feb 21 (Aswat Masriya) - The Egyptian House of Representatives voted in favour of the resignation of Serry Siam in a close vote on Sunday, with 301 out of parliament's 596 members approving. 

Siam, who was appointed as a member of the House by presidential decree, handed in his resignation in a sealed envelope on Feb. 8. He was not present during today's session, an eyewitness said. 

Sources earlier told Aswat Masriya that he resigned in objection to the way "sessions have been managed" and to his marginalisation. 

On Dec. 31, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appointed 28 parliamentarians including Siam, who previously served as the head of Egypt's Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council.

Sources had previously said that Siam is under "pressures" to retract his resignation so as to avoid embarrassing the presidency. 

House Speaker Ali Abdel Aal said he will notify the president that Siam's seat is vacant, since the president has the right to appoint a replacement.   

The House of Representatives, which convened last month, is Egypt's first since legislature 2012 when a top Egypt court dissolved the People's Assembly, the lower house of parliament. At the time, Egypt had a bicameral legislature; but even the upper house, the Shura Council was dissolved in 2013.