New Egyptian Cabinet Sworn In

Posted on Jul 21, 2011

Flickr / Maged Helal (CC-BY)

Egyptian military officials swore in a new, temporary Cabinet on Thursday in response to rising pressure from protesters demanding a faster transition away from the Mubarak regime. The Cabinet is now made up of 12 new members and two new deputy prime ministers, while 13 other members were allowed to keep their jobs. Some Mubarak loyalists remain.

The new Cabinet is not expected to stay in place longer than four months. Parliamentary elections are tentatively planned for October or November. —BF

The Associated Press:

The new government led by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf features 12 new faces and two deputy prime ministers. Thirteen other members kept their jobs.

Tension has been rising in Egypt over what many perceive as the army’s reluctance to act against the former regime. A few hundred protesters have been camping out in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square — the epicenter of the uprising that ended Mubarak’s rule on Feb. 11 — to try to keep up pressure on the military council ruling the country.

Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, told the new Cabinet on Thursday to restore security, prepare for new elections and fight corruption.

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