Egyptian military council's head to stay on as Defence Minister in new cabinet

Cairo, June 29 (ANI): Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of Egypt's armed forces chief will keep his post as Defence Minister in a new cabinet to be formed by the country's new President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the military council has said.

"The [new] government will have a defence minister who is head of the supreme council of the armed forces," Major-General Mohamed Assar said during an interview on CBC television.

Asked if this meant Tantawi would keep his defence portfolio, Assar said, 'exactly. What is wrong with that?'

"He is the head of the supreme council of the armed forces, the defence minister and the commander of the armed forces," the Guardian quoted General Assar, as saying.

Tantawi, 76, pushed Mubarak aside on February 11, 2011 when it became clear the security forces could not contain street protests against his 30-year rule.

The military council took charge, managing a turbulent and sometimes violent transition period, during which Egypt's first free parliamentary and presidential elections have taken place. (ANI)