New Egyptian government sworn in by head of Supreme Council of Armed Forces at ceremony in Cairo

Ministers of Egypt's new government were sworn in on Monday by the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, at a ceremony in the capital Cairo.

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf's government includes six new ministers including Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi, Oil Minister Abdullah Ghorab and those of interior, culture, justice and labour.

Sharaf, appointed on Thursday after protests against the presence of associates of Hosni Mubarak in the caretaker government running affairs since the former president's departure, has vowed to work for a democratic system.

Arabi, a former ambassador to the United Nations, was named as foreign minister on Sunday. The 75-year-old replaced Ahmed Abul Gheit, who had been in the job since 2004.

New premier Sharaf addressed thousands of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday and was received with raucous cheers of support.

Sharaf was appointed after the unexpected resignation of Ahmed Shafiq, sparking celebrations from protesters demanding a purge of the remnants of Mubarak's regime.

Mubarak appointed Shafiq in the dying days of his rule in a bid to quell the protests, and Shafiq stayed on as head of the caretaker government.