New Egyptian Interim Cabinet Sworn Into Office

Egyptian interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi

Members of an interim government have been sworn into office in Egypt.

Led by Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi, it is Egypt’s first government since the July 3 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammad Morsi.

Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood reacted to ceremony in Cairo on July 16 by calling the cabinet "illegitimate."

Army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the architect of Morsi’s ouster, was sworn in as first deputy prime minister and defense minister.

Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s ambassador to the United States from 1999 to 2008, was assigned the foreign affairs portfolio.

Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim retained his position despite calls from activists for him to be replaced.

Sherif Ismail, head of the state-owned oil holding company Ganope, has been named interim oil minister.

Liberal Christian politician Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour is interim trade and industry minister.

Based on Reuters, AP, AFP, and DPA