Aid flows as army controls process

Supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi prepare symbolic coffins, representing some 51 people killed. Photo / AP

Egypt's new leaders have won US$8 billion ($10.16 billion) in promises of aid from wealthy Gulf Arab allies in moves aimed at settling a political transition less than a week after the army deposed the country's Islamist President.

The interim President has named a new Prime Minister and Egyptian armed forces warned political factions that "manoeuvring" must not hold up the military's ambitious fast-track timetable for new elections next year.

The sharp message underlined how strongly the military is shepherding the process, even as liberal reform movements that backed its removal of Mohammed Morsi complained that now they were not being consulted in decision-making.

The Muslim Brotherhood denounced the transition plan, vowing to continue street protests until the ousted Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected President, is returned to power.

The National Salvation Front, the main coalition that backed Morsi's overthrow, also heaped scorn on the decree, which invests the interim President with extensive powers and sets a new election schedule.

The coalition, led by Mohamed ElBaradei until his appointment as Vice-President in the new Government, complained of a lack of consultation before the charter was adopted.

"We call for it to be amended and will propose our own amendments to the President," the group added

The appointment of economist Hazem el-Beblawi as Prime Minister, along with the setting of the accelerated timetable, underlined the army's determination to push ahead in the face of Islamist opposition and outrage over the killing of more than 50 Morsi supporters.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates provided a welcome boost for the new leadership. The two countries, both opponents of Morsi's Brotherhood, celebrated his ouster by showering the cash-strapped Egyptian Government with promises of billions in grants, loans and badly needed gas and oil.

In doing so, they are effectively stepping in for Morsi's Gulf patron, Qatar, a close ally of the Brotherhood that gave his Government billions in aid. During Morsi's year in office, he and his officials toured multiple countries seeking cash to prop up rapidly draining foreign currency reserves and plug mounting deficits, at times getting the cold shoulder.

The developments underlined the pressures on the new leaders, even with the country still in turmoil after what Morsi's supporters have called a coup against democracy.

The military faces calls, from the US and Western allies in particular, to show that civilians are in charge and Egypt is on track to a democratically based leadership.

The new Government will soon face demands to tackle economic woes that mounted under Morsi, including fuel shortages, electricity cuts and inflation.