Egypt's army chief field marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will remain as defense minister in the new government, state TV reported Wednesday.Egyptian Prime Minister-designate Ibrahim Mahlab also reappointed three ministers in his new government. Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim, Oil Minister Sherif Ismail and Planning Minister Ashraf al-Arabi were reappointed on Wednesday but there was no immediate word on who would take the defense ministry, held by army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the outgoing cabinet.
Egypt's army-backed interim government resigned unexpectedly on Monday. Mahlab was appointed on Tuesday to form a new government. In a press conference held shortly after his appointment, Mahlab said he hopes to form a new cabinet within three or four days.
Mahlab said his cabinet members will be "holy warriors" in the service of Egyptians and added that restoring security in the country will be a top priority.
| Maybe the last thing you guys need is more 'holy warriors'. Just sayin'... |
Mahlab, a former official in deposed President Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party, is a civil engineer who formerly served as chairman and CEO of Arab Contractors Company, a large Egyptian civil engineering firm.