¡¡¡¡BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Egypt¡¯s Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi will keep his post as defense minister in the nation¡¯s first Muslim Brotherhood-led administration. That¡¯s the word from Prime Minister-designate Hisham Qandil. A new cabinet has been announced.

¡¡¡¡Finally, the long-waited for cabinet was announced Thursday by the newly appointed Prime Minister Hisham Qandil. Against all expectations and fears that the Islamists will dominate the government, the Muslim brotherhood¡¯s Freedom and Justice party were represented in only five ministries out of 35.

¡¡¡¡Ashraf Mohamed, political journalist, said, "We were surprised that Freedom and Justice party is represented in 5 ministries only. To a big extent the people and political forces will be satisfied since the FJPdidn¡¯t get the majority of the cabinet but on the other side we were surprised that he used 6 ministers who belong to the former regime."

¡¡¡¡This fact may face disappointment from revolutionaries. In reply, Qandil stated that the selection was based on effectiveness of those ministers and their records were checked thoroughly and proved clear. Qandil also confirmed that the head of the military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, will retain his position as defence minister, a post he has held since 1991 and a sign to many that he still clinching to power. Qandil called his government as the people¡¯s government, stating that its main priority will be upholding the ideals and goals of the January 25 Revolution.

¡¡¡¡Hisham Qandil, Egyptian prime minister-designate, said, "Its time now to unite with the president and this cabinet. The government will not succeed alone. We are the people¡¯s government and we don¡¯t represent a specific faction or current. Unite to achieve the goals of the 25th of January revolution."

¡¡¡¡Despite being called a technocrat government, the new lineup is likely to face criticism from revolutionaries since it includes members of Mubarak¡¯s administration but in all the cases the cabinet will now have to confront huge challenges including ailing economy and domestic security.

¡¡¡¡And since Sherif El Touny¡¯s report, Egypt¡¯s new prime minister and cabinet have taken the oath of office before President Mohamed Morsiin the presidential palace. The new cabinet has 35 ministries, including four new ones for Sports, Youth, Investment, and Water and Sanitation.

¡¡¡¡(Source: CNTV.cn)