Ministers resign in objection to regime’s handling of protests

Local media reported on Monday a series of senior resignations in opposition to the regime's management of the current crisis. The state-run Al-Ahram paper reported that State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Hatem Bagato has submitted his resignation to the Cabinet earlier today. 

Al-Ahram reported that Bagato wrote in his resignation that he rejects how the regime disregarded mass protests against President Mohamed Morsi. On Sunday, mass protests brought millions to the streets of Egypt, who demanded the ouster of Morsi, in power for just a year. 

Cabinet sources told Al-Ahram that Minister of Tourism Hesham Zaazou, Minister of Communications Atef Helmy and Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy have also submitted their resignation. 

Cabinet sources told Al-Shorouk privately-run daily that the resignations are not coordinated. 

Bagato held positions during former President Hosni Mubarak as he was the deputy head of the Supreme Constitutional Court. Zaazou also held official positions under the former regime at the Ministry of Tourism under the leadership of former Minister Zoheir Garana. 

In recent statements, Helmy pledged not to cut any communications during the protests, as fears rose that the regime would repeat Mubarak's strategy of implementing a black out.