Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf yesterday postponed the swearing-in of a new Cabinet intended to deflect anger over the pace of reform as protesters said the shakeup did not go far enough.
Mr Sharaf, who heads a caretaker government after a revolt toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak in February, had hoped the sweeping reshuffle would persuade the protesters to end a 10-day-old sit-in at Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square.
But the protesters complained that the new Cabinet retains ministers they wanted sacked, including Justice Minister Abdel Aziz al-Gindi, whom they accuse of delaying trials of former regime officials, including Mr Mubarak.
Fourteen new ministers and a deputy Premier had been expected to take their oaths office before Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads the ruling military, but state television said the ceremony had been postponed until today.
“The government of Sharaf will take the constitutional oath tomorrow (today) to allow for the completion of negotiations,” state-run Nile Television reported.
The new Cabinet will include former World Bank official Mohammed Kamel Amr as Foreign Minister and veteran economist Hazem Beblawi, who will serve as Finance Minister as well as deputy premier for economic affairs.