CAIRO - Egyptian officials announced a new government Tuesday that excluded members of the country's influential Islamist parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood, and appeared to give an expanded role to the country's powerful military chief.
The new Cabinet replaces the government of President Mohammed Morsi, deposed by the military two weeks ago after mass protests against him. It is part of a military-led transition plan to lead to parliamentary elections within six months.
Analysts praised the diversity of the new Cabinet, which included three women. At the same time, they said, any government that owed its existence to the army, rather than voters, and excluded Islamists faced immediate questions.
A spokesman for Egypt's interim president denied that anyone had been "excluded" and said that positions had been offered to members of the Brotherhood and the ultraconservative Al-Nour party.
But Gehad el-Haddad, a spokesman for the Brotherhood said the party was never offered any posts. "The whole thing is illegitimate," he said.
The army chief, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who already serves as defense minister, added the title of first deputy to the interim prime minister, although his specific powers remained vague.
The new government was immediately faced with the tense and sometimes violent standoff between authorities and Morsi's supporters. After days without major violence, at least seven people were killed and more than 200 were injured in overnight clashes across Cairo, which appeared to signal an escalation by the Islamists.
New York Times
