Mubarak-era ministers detained

CAIRO, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Egypt's former information and broadcasting chiefs were held in a corruption investigation of the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, officials said.

The detentions followed court appearances by three other former officers to answer to charges of money laundering and abuse of power, the BBC reported Friday.

On Thursday, former Information Minister Anas al-Fikki and former state radio and television chief Osama al-Sheik were arrested as part of the investigation. Fikki is the fourth member of Mubarak's Cabinet arrested, joining former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, Tourism Minister Zuhair Garana and Housing Minister Ahmed al-Maghrabi.

The four pleaded innocent.

Egypt's new Cabinet met for the first time, hearing criticisms that key figures from Mubarak's circle haven't been replaced.

Last week, millions of Egyptians swarmed into Tahrir Square to celebrate the uprising that led to Mubarak's resignation Feb. 11 after 18 days of protests. They pledged to keep pressuring leaders until their demands are met.

The 10-member Cabinet was sworn in by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt's military council, which is running the country until the fall elections.

Despite inclusion of opposition figures for the first time, the ministers of Defense, Interior, Foreign Affairs and Justice remained in office over the objections of several groups, the BBC said.