New cabinet sworn in amid protests
\nBy RFI<\/p>\n
New ministers in a sweeping reshuffle of Egypt’s cabinet took their oaths in front of the country’s military ruler on Thursday, as the prime minister sought to appease protestors over the pace of reform.<\/p>\n
Roughly half of the ministers in the reshuffled cabinet are new.<\/p>\n
The new team was meant to take office on Monday but the ceremony was delayed amid wrangling which led to Prime Minister Essam Sharaf’s brief hospitalisation with exhaustion.<\/p>\n
Sharaf had hoped the new cabinet would mollify activists who have been camped out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square since 8 July, but they have rejected the new line-up, which retains several ministers they want sacked.<\/p>\n
According to a list published on MENA, the official news agency, several controversial ministers kept their posts, including two appointed under ousted president Hosni Mubarak.<\/p>\n
The protesters wanted Sharaf to replace Justice Minister Abdel Aziz al-Gindi, whom they accused of delaying trials of former regime officials, including Mubarak himself.<\/p>\n
Activists have called for a mass demonstration on Friday, dubbing it the “Decisive Friday”, while hardline Islamist groups say they are organising a counter-demonstration for “stability.”<\/p>\n
It will be the second cabinet to take office in the face of protests since a nationwide revolt overthrew Mubarak in February. …more<\/a><\/p>\n