Hazem Abdel Azim, the prime candidate for the role of Minister of Communications in the cabinet reshuffle, has denied a state TV report that he turned down for the post.

Abdel Azim was nominated by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf but looks like being replaced just one night before the official swearing-in ceremony.



The abrupt turnaround has sparked confusion in Egypt.Some believe the decision to replace Abdel Azim was spurred by the nature of the personal views he expressed during a TV appearance earlier in the week after his nomination.



Following the TV broadcast, rumours spread about Abdel Azim's alleged affilation with an Israeli corporation.



Abdel Azim denied the reports on his Twitter and Facebook pages, referring to the incident as "the start of a distortion campaign".



The official swearing-in ceremony was initially scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 20 July but then postponed until today, Thursday.



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