DHAKA: Egypt’s interim prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab said his cabinet had resigned on Monday, allowing president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to choose a new team on his first day in office.

Ex-army chief Sisi was sworn in on Sunday, nearly a year after he ousted elected president Mohamed Mursi after millions protested against the Islamist's divisive one year rule.

The government installed by Sisi, who has been the de facto leader since he toppled Mursi, resigned to allow the new president to ‘choose an appropriate one to serve the nation’, Mahlab said in a statement, reports The Straits Times.

‘I assure you that along with the ministers... I exerted all efforts to accomplish the duties we were tasked with in very difficult circumstances,’ Mahlab said.

BDST: 1713 HRS, JUNE 09, 2014