Egypt names new ICT minister

Egypt has sworn in a new Minister of Communications and Information Technology in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at appeasing protestors who have grown impatient with the speed of reforms in the country.

Hazem Abdel Azim took the oath in front of Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the military body that is acting as the executive since former President Hosni Mubarak handed over control in February. Abdel Azim is an industry figure and former computing professor. His academic research focused on "Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing and Electronic Computing", according to a statement released by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). He replaces academic Maged Osman, who held the post since February. Azim stressed that the new cabinet is a transitional rather than a caretaker government. During his tenure he would focus on "short-term, high-impact" targets. Azim is one of 15 new ministers in the cabinet, creating a group in which more than half are newcomers.