Egypt renamed its candidate for Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) at the last moment, according to press reports in the local press. The cabinet was scheduled to be sworn in Thursday, including Hazim Abdel Azim, a former academic and industry figure. The Arabic edition of the Egyptian daily al-Masry al-Youm reported that Muhammad Abdel Qadr Salem would be replacing Abdel Azim. In a television appearance Wednesday, Abdel Azim said a cabinet official informed him over the phone that his alleged ties to an Israeli company compromised the level of security necessary for the position. A number of rumors circulated since Tuesday regarding Abdel Azim's ties to Israeli companies. The former minister designate denied the charges, dismissing them as a “smear campaign” on his twitter account. BM