Egyptian cabinet quits

However, Mr Beblawi gave no indication that his resignation was in any way an act of protest against the hard-line military and intelligence figures currently controlling much of Egypt's politics from behind the scenes.

"The Cabinet has, in the last six or seven months, responsibly and dutifully shouldered a very difficult and delicate burden and I believe that, in most cases, we have achieved good results," he said.

"But like any endeavor, it cannot all be success but rather within the boundaries of what is humanly possible."

He said Egypt was in a "narrow tunnel in terms of security, economic pressures and political confusion".

His replacement was widely expected to be Ibrahim Mahlab, the housing minister, according to Egyptian media, but it was also suggested that Mr Beblawi might be asked to stay on for an interim period - presumably until Field Marshal Sisi is ready to make a formal announcement of his candidacy, which would require him to stand down as defence minister.

Mr Beblawi, an economist who followed a "technocratic" route to office like many Egyptian cabinet ministers after a career in banking, was previously finance minister and deputy premier during the period of interim military rule following the fall of ex-President Hosni Mubarak three years ago.

He resigned in October 2011 in protest at the military's killing of more than 20 Christian protesters outside the state television building, but remained in office for a further two months.

Mr Mahlabs appointment would reinforce the widespread sense that the military is overseeing a return to the Mubarak era shorn of the man himself. A member of Mr Mubaraks National Democratic Party, he ran the state-owned construction company, Arab Contractors, and was appointed to the upper house of parliament directly by Mr Mubarak in 2010.

He is seen as close to the army but also as more dynamic than Mr Beblawi.

See original here:
Egyptian cabinet quits