New political landscape develops in Egypt

CAIRO, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The Muslim Brotherhood's political party in Egypt said results from the first round of voting are a clear indication of the post-revolution political landscape.

The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the conservative al-Nour party scored the highest number of votes in elections for the lower house of the Egyptian Parliament.

"The results of the first round are a clear indication of each political faction's presence in the street and among the people," said FJP Secretary-General Saad Katatny.

The Islamist victory means the ruling military council will have to make room for political organizations banned under Hosni Mubarak's regime. Protests erupted in the days before the elections as Egyptians expressed frustration about the pace of reform in their country.

Hussein Tantawi, leader of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, helped swear in Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri's new administration during a Wednesday ceremony in Cairo.

The new Cabinet consists of what Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram described as "academics and veteran bureaucrats." Of the 27 members of the new Cabinet, two -- International Cooperation and Planning Minister Faiza Abdul Naga and Electricity Minister Hassan Younes -- are holdovers from the Mubarak era.

Ganzouri during the ceremony was given all executive privileges in the new government except control over the military and the judiciary.