ELBARADEI SWORN IN AS EGYPT VICE PRESIDET: PRESIDENCY

Cairo, 7 Ramadan 1434/14 July 2013 (MINA) -Prominent liberal Egyptian leader Mohamed El Baradei was sworn in on Sunday (14/7) as Egypt’s interim vice president for foreign relations, the presidency said in a statement.

The appointment of ElBaradei, a former head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog and a Nobel peace laureate, follows the military overthrow of the freely elected president Mohamed Morsi on July 3.

He was initially tipped to lead the cabinet, but his nomination was rejected by the ultra conservative Salafist party Al-Nour, Dailystar reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

ElBaradei was late last year named head of the National Salvation Front, a coalition of leftist and liberal groups, formed in the wake of a power grab by Morsi in November.

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ElBaradei served as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1997 to 2009 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 jointly with the IAEA, Xinhua reported.

Earlier on Sunday, the Egyptian presidency said interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi has started consultations with a number of nominees for various ministerial portfolios.

It said that former ambassador to Washington Nabil Fahmy has accepted the post of interim foreign minister.

Local media said the cabinet line-up will be announced Tuesday.(T/P03/P04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)