New Egyptian Cabinet includes many holdovers

Egypt’s president swore in members of his first cabinet on Thursday, marking another milestone in the country’s difficult transition even as reports of deadly violence complicated the new government’s work.

At least three people were killed in separate, unrelated clashes between the security forces and residents, in Cairo and in a village in southern Egypt, witnesses and security officials said.

On Thursday night, President Mohamed Morsi met with his ministers at the presidential palace, the state news media reported. The makeup of the cabinet, which includes longtime state employees and at least six former government ministers, has lowered expectations of a sweeping change in governance that was the promise of last year’s revolt.