ElBaradei is new Egypt VP

Egyptian reform advocate Mohammed ElBaradei, who led the country's main opposition group in criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood, was sworn-in Sunday as the country's interim vice president.

The 71-year-old former diplomat and Nobel laureate emerged as a prominent democracy advocate and later as the head of the National Salvation Front, a secular coalition of groups opposed to former President Mohammed Morsi.

According to NSF spokesman Khaled Dawoud, ElBaradei no longer heads the coalition.

"He is now a vice president for all Egyptians," Dawoud said.

Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour oversaw the swearing in of ElBaradei, the latest move by the country's new leadership to push ahead with a transition plan following the military's ouster of Morsi nearly two weeks ago.

Thousands of Morsi's supporters, though, have vowed to continue their sit-in in Cairo until he is reinstated. They have refused to accept his ouster or the military-backed timeline for transition, which calls for changes to the constitution and new elections for parliament and president.

ElBaradei's NSF group under Morsi was among the president's strongest critics. The coalition stood with Defense Minister Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as he announced Morsi's ouster amid massive protests against his rule.

The former Egyptian diplomat to the United Nations is known internationally for his 12 years of work as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Nabil Fahmy appointed Egypt foreign minister

Nabil Fahmy, a former ambassador to the United States, on Sunday accepted the post of foreign minister in Egypt's new cabinet, which replaces ousted president Mohamed Morsi's government, sources said.

Fahmy accepted the offer from caretaker premier Hazem al-Beblawi, who is holding a second day of talks with ministerial candidates for the interim cabinet, the foreign ministry sources told AFP.

The official MENA news agency confirmed the appointment.

Fahmy is a career diplomat and founding dean of the school of public affairs at the American University in Cairo, who served as ambassador in Washington between 1999 and 2008.

Beblawi has said that the top priorities of his new cabinet will be to restore security, ensure the flow of goods and services and prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections.

It is expected to have around 30 ministries and could be unveiled by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Earlier on Sunday, prominent liberal leader Mohamed ElBaradei was sworn in as interim vice president for foreign relations, the presidency said.

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