El-Ganzouri: What concerns me is forming the best government for Egypt

Egypt's new prime minister Kamal el-Ganzouri said on Friday that military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi has no intention of staying in power and he would not have accepted the job if that was the case.     

The 78-year old spoke in a televised news conference, saying he won't be able to form a government before elections start on Monday.     

"In forming (the government) we will send for different types of people, from any party faction, any political leaning - they're all encouraged to put their names forward. The thing that concerns me is forming the best government for the country," he said.    

El-Ganzouri's appointment was rejected by tens of thousands of protesters who packed into Cairo's central Tahrir Square for their biggest demonstration since the current showdown began.     

Activists accused the generals of trying to extend the old guard and demanded they step down immediately after failing to stabilize the country, salvage the economy or bring democracy following Mubarak's removal.       

El-Ganzouri was prime under Mubarak between 1996 and 1999 and was deputy prime minister and planning minister before that. He also was a provincial governor under the late President Anwar Sadat.      

El-Ganzouri's appointment was announced by state TV following a meeting late Thursday between him and Tantawi.    

Tantawi was Mubarak's defence minister of 20 years and served in el-Ganzouri's earlier government.        

It was the latest in a series of efforts by the military to appease protesters without meeting their main demand of stepping down immediately.

AP