Egypt cabinet sworn in, with most ministers retained

An Egyptian cabinet led by Ibrahim Mahlab was sworn in Tuesday, with most positions from the previous military-installed government retained but the foreign minister replaced and an investment minister appointed.

The ministers took the oath of office before newly installed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in an early morning ceremony broadcast live on state television.

Sisi, who led last year's ouster by the army of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, had tasked Prime Minister Mahlab with forming a new cabinet after his inauguration on June 8.

The new 34-member cabinet has 13 new ministers including Sameh Shoukri, a former ambassador to Washington, as the foreign minister.

He replaces Nabil Fahmy, who leaves the role despite having made a high-profile visit to the United States in April.

"The president must have had a say in choosing the new foreign minister as usually he chooses ministers of interior, foreign, defense and justice," said Mustapha Kamel al-Sayyid, political science professor at Cairo University.