Egypt's PM-designate pledges 'people's government'

Egypt's prime minister-designate is describing his new 35-member Cabinet as the "people's government" and has called on Egyptians to unite in the face of "grave" challenges.

The U.S.-educated Hesham Kandil also confirmed that Hosni Mubarak's defense minister of 20 years, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, will retain the post. Tantawi led the military generals who took over from Mubarak when the president stepped down after a popular uprising last year.

Kandil spoke at a news conference on Thursday, hours ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet. He says several members of the outgoing, military-backed government will retain their posts, including the foreign and finance ministers.

Kandil is a devout Muslim who maintains that he has no formal links to any of the country's Islamist political parties.