Egypt's new
Cabinet has been sworn in days after the country's interim president chose a
new prime minister. The new Cabinet keeps Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi
as the country's defense minister.
On
Saturday, state television aired the swearing-in live from the presidential
palace. Former Housing Minister Ibrahim Mehlib, who held a senior position in
the now dissolved party of ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak, leads the new Cabinet
of an embattled Egypt.
Defense
Minister Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi, widely expected to run for
president, retained his post, as well as that of vice prime minister. The
country's interior minister, in charge of police, also remains the same.
Sissi, who
has emerged as Egypt's most popular political figure since he led the coup that
overthrew elected Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last July, has not yet
announced his candidacy in the election scheduled for this spring. However, his
aides say he has already decided to stand. In order to do so, Sissi must first
step down as defense minister and army chief.
In a
surprise on Monday, the Cabinet resigned, including the acting prime minister,
Hazem el-Beblawi. Mehlib kept 20 ministers from the previous government and
appointed 11 new ones, mostly technocrats.
mkg/dr (AFP, AP)
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