CAIRO - Egypt's parliament decided on Sunday to begin steps towards withdrawing confidence from the military-appointed government of Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri, a move that will pile pressure on the ruling generals to appoint a new cabinet likely to be headed by the Muslim Brotherhood. Speaker Saad al-Katatni asked MPs to vote on the idea of withdrawing confidence from the Ganzouri government after MPs called for its resignation during a session called to debate the government's handling of a probe into civil society groups, including US-based organisations. In a show of hands during the televised session, almost every MP voted in favour of the motion. "The chamber agreed," Katatni said after the vote. Under Egypt's existing system of government, it would be up to the military council to sack Ganzouri and appoint a new cabinet. The military council has been exercising Hosni Mubarak's presidential powers since he was toppled from power a year ago. It was not immediately clear when the vote of no-confidence would take place. The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party is the biggest group in the new parliament, with 43 per cent of the seats. The group has been calling for a new coalition government reflecting the make-up of the parliament.
