Egypt's ambassador to the United Nations, Ahmed Aboul Ghaith, has been appointed foreign minister in a new cabinet, replacing outgoing foreign minister Ahmed Maher, the state news agency MENA said on Saturday.
Aboul Ghaith will leave New York on Saturday evening to come to Cairo and take up his post, it added.
It was the first ministerial appointment since Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak asked outgoing Communications Minister Ahmed Nazif on Friday to form and head a new government.
Ahmed Maher, 68, came out of retirement to take the foreign ministry job in May 2001. He was expected to leave the post because of occasional poor health.
He has had heart surgery and missed President Mubarak's visit to the United States in April because he was in hospital. (Albawaba.com)
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