Sisi to stay on as Egypt defence minister

Egyptian military chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi will stay as defence minister in the nation's new government along with five other ministers who will also keep their jobs, media reported Wednesday.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, authorised to appoint the defence minister, did not assign anyone to replace Sisi at its meeting Wednesday, Xinhua reported citing state-run Ahram website.

Sisi is expected to announce whether he will contest presidency in the upcoming elections after a new presidential law is approved, an official source told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, state-run Nile TV said interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab reappointed Wednesday five ministers from the outgoing cabinet in his new government, including Petroleum Minister Sherif Ismail, Planning Minister Ashraf al-Arabi and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim.

Also, Minister of Local Development Adel Labib and Education Minister Mahmoud Mohamed Abu El-Nasr will be in the new line-up that is expected to be announced Saturday.

On Monday, the Egyptian interim government presided over by Hazem al-Beblawi, which took office last July following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, tendered its resignation.

On Tuesday, outgoing Housing Minister Mahlab was appointed as Beblawi's successor to form a new government.