CAIRO: Egypt's recently appointed foreign minister, Mohamed al-Orabi, resigned unexpectedly last night in the midst of an expected cabinet reshuffle. Orabi's resignation was a response to public demands and pressure. Egyptian demonstrators said Orabi had strong relations with Egypt's former ruling regime while he served as ambassador to Germany. Orabi's resignation, however, clashed with the Foreign Ministry's agenda announced on Saturday. The ministry's press office said Orabi would meet today, Sunday, with the deputy secretary general of the United Nations and the public diplomacy delegation that recently visited Iran. Youm7 attempted to reach Orabi, but his phone line remained busy. It is expected that more information about Orabi's decision will be released soon. Although Orabi appeared keen to perform his role in leading Egypt's foreign diplomacy during the country's critical transitional stage, he responded to the demands of demonstrators and political powers who called for his resignation or dismissal. Public criticism focused on Orabi's relations with the former regime and his recent statements about Egyptian relations with a number of Arab Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, which he referred to as Egypt's ‘older brother.' The declaration raised controversy among Egyptians. Orabi became foreign minister less than one month ago, replacing former FM Nabil al-Arabi after al-Arabi was elected head of the Arab League.
