CAIRO: The Secretary-General of Al-Wafd opposition party Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour confirmed to Daily News Egypt his appointment as Minister of Tourism in the interim government led by Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq. Shafiq's government is currently under fire for its affiliation with ousted president Hosni Mubarak, who had appointed Shafiq in a cabinet reshuffle in response to demonstrations calling for his resignation. Mubarak stepped down on Feb. 11 after 18 days of nation-wide protests. Abdel Nour, who was asked by the interim PM to join cabinet, told Daily News Egypt that every decision has its pros and cons, describing the current government as “very open to different political parties and important political players.” “I see that rejecting this appointment as an act of weakness and giving up responsibility, especially at this critical time in Egypt's history,” said Abdel Nour. “Rejecting is the easiest thing in the world, but out of a feeling of responsibility I have to accept the challenge and I'm trying to push for this.” Abdel Nour is board member of Center of Developing Countries Research and Studies. He founded of Vitrac Company in 1981 and is currently one of its shareholders. He also used to be a board member of the Cairo and Alexandria stock exchange. Abdel Nour will be sworn in before the Head of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi as soon as Shafiq completes a limited cabinet reshuffle that will include three or four ministers, according to statements given by an unnamed military official to the Middle East News Agency (MENA). Abdel Nour replaces ex-minister Zoheir Garranah who has been in police custody since Thursday following an arrest warrant by the Public Funds Prosecution. Garranah is being investigated for the alleged misappropriation of public funds. He was previously banned from travel and had his assets frozen in a prelude to a criminal investigation and possible trial.
