New Egypt’s Cabinet Sworn In

Egypt has sworn in a new cabinet after the previous government surprised the country by resigning less than one week ago.

Interim President Adly Mansour picked Ibrahim Mehleb as the new prime minister on Tuesday and tasked him with forming a new government. Mehleb has decided to keep some of the former ministers in his new government, including Egypt’s army chief, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as defense minister and Mohamed Ibrahim as interior minister.

Mehleb headed Egypt’s mammoth state-owned construction company during the rule of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and served as the housing minister in the interim cabinet that resigned on Monday.

Mehleb vowed at a news conference to “crush terrorism in all corners” of Egypt and restore security.

Egypt has been hit with a wave of labor strikes protesting the government’s economic failures as the country heads toward expected presidential elections in April.

Defense Minister Sisi is expected to run for president.

Former interim prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi had headed the government since July, when the army ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

Source: AFP & The Associated Press