DHAKA: Egypt’s president has asked outgoing housing minister Ibrahim Mahlab to form a new government, state media report, a day after the interim cabinet quit.

Interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi did not give a clear reason for his government’s resignation on Monday.

The surprise announcement came amid a series of public sector strikes and an acute shortage of cooking gas.

Beblawi was appointed in July after the military overthrew president Mohammed Mursi following mass protests, reports the BBC.

BDST: 1815 HRS, FEB 25, 2014