LOS ANGELES (AFP, REUTERS) - A US federal appeals court early Sunday (Feb 5) rejected a request by the Department of Justice to immediately reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban.

Trump's administration had made the request with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals a day after a lower court order temporarily suspending the travel ban on citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries.

The president's Jan 27 order had barred admission of citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya for 90 days.

"Appellants' request for an immediate administrative stay pending full consideration of the emergency motion for a stay pending appeal is denied," the ruling said.

It said a reply from the Department in support of the emergency appeal was due on Monday.