El-Sissi retains interim PM

President el-Sissi chose to retain interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab in his post and asked him to form a new government, Egyptian state television reported on Monday. In a customary step, Mahlab had earlier in the day submitted his and his cabinet's resignation in order to allow such a move.

El-Sissi was sworn in on Sunday, almost one year after he as military chief ousted democratically elected Islamist President Muhammad Morsi after millions had taken to the streets to protest against his rule.

In his first national address as president el-Sissi warned there would be "no leniency and truce with those who resort to violence."

"I am looking to a new era built on reconciliation and tolerance...except with those who committed crimes or used violence as a tool," he said without specifically mentioning the Muslim Brotherhood.

Since Morsi's ouster the military-backed government has carried out a crackdown on the former president's Muslim Brotherhood in which more than 1,400 people have been killed and thousands more jailed.

El-Sissi, a former defense minister as well as head of the military, is said to have won almost 97 percent of the vote in elections that took place at the end of May. The Muslim Brotherhood refuses to recognize him and the military-backed government with many of its supporters refusing to take part in the election.

hc/pfd (AFP, AP, Reuters)