Egypt's protests persist despite new cabinet

More than half of the ministers changed in reshuffle as military council faces pressure for faster and deeper reforms.

Egypt has been embroiled in daily protests over the parliamentary election process and and a new constitution

A new cabinet has been sworn in by Egypt's ruling military council as it tries to appease protesters demanding faster reforms and a deeper purge of former President Hosni Mubarak's allies.

More than half of the ministers have been changed, including those holding the foreign, finance and trade portfolios. Some of those removed were appointed by Mubarak.

The new ministers, including the foreign minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr, took the oath of office in the presence of Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the ruling military council, official news agency MENA said.

Protesters camped out in Cairo's Tahrir Square have demanded faster political and economic reform, a swift move to democratic civilian rule, and the removal from government of members of deposed Mubarak's now defunct political party.

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