Egypt's new PM designate vows to meet protester’s demands

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt's new Prime Minister designate has vowed before thousands of mostly young demonstrators at a central Cairo square that he'll do everything he can to meet their demands, pleading they turn their attention to "rebuilding" the country.

Essam Sharaf was picked by Egypt's ruling military on March 3 to replace Ahmed Shafiq as Prime Minister.

Shafiq was the last Premier to be named by Hosni Mubarak, who stepped down Feb. 11 at the end of 18 days of anti-government protests.

A former transport minister, Sharaf endeared himself to the protesters when he joined the demonstrations that forced Mubarak to resign.

He told the crowd at Tahrir Square on March 4 that he gains his "legitimacy" from the demonstrators but declined to take an oath of office before them as they demanded, The Associated Press reported.