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Egypt's government resigns, new prime minister appointed

By Amy R. Connolly
Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Roshdy Mahlab greets the press as he arrives at the White House for a State Dinner on behalf of the US-Africa Leaders Summit, August 5, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Saturday, Mahlab and his entire cabinet resigned for unknown reasons. File photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Roshdy Mahlab greets the press as he arrives at the White House for a State Dinner on behalf of the US-Africa Leaders Summit, August 5, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Saturday, Mahlab and his entire cabinet resigned for unknown reasons. File photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo

CAIRO, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Egyptian Energy Minister Sherif Ismail was appointed as the country's new prime minister less than an hour after the government resigned Saturday.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced the appointment after Egypt's entire cabinet, led by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, submitted resignation papers. El-Sisi ordered the cabinet to continue working until a new cabinet can be seated, which must be completed in a week.

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The reason behind the mass resignation is unclear but comes after Agriculture Minister Selah Eddin Helal resigned and was arrested on corruption charges.

Mahlab had been prime minister since February 2014.

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