Egypt’s new president designates new prime minister, asks him to form government

CAIRO – Egypt’s state news agency says the country’s new president has designated a new prime minister and asked him to form a new Cabinet.

MENA reported Tuesday that President Mohammed Morsi tasked Hesham Kandil, the minister of Water Resources and Irrigation in the outgoing government, with putting together a new Cabinet to replace the current military-appointed one.

Morsi had promised to pick someone from outside his Muslim Brotherhood group to lead a unity government.

It is unclear what Kandil’s powers will be or whether the country’s military will continue to control the appointment of top security posts.