Egypt president-elect starts consultations on team

In this image taken from Egypt State TV, newly-elect President Mohammed Morsi delivers a speech in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 24, 2012. Islamist Mohammed Morsi was declared the winner Sunday in Egypt's first free presidential election in history, closing the tumultuous first phase of a democratic transition and opening a new struggle with the still-dominant military rulers who recently stripped the presidency of most of its powers. (AP Photo/Egypt State TV) MANDATORY CREDIT / Anonymous

CAIRO — An aide to Egypt's president-elect says Islamist Mohammed Morsi has moved into the office once occupied by ousted leader Hosni Mubarak and has started consultations on forming his team and a new government.

Yasser Ali, a spokesman for the presidential campaign, said the 60-year-old Morsi arrived at the presidential office on Monday for official meetings and consultations.

On Sunday, Morsi was declared winner of Egypt's first presidential runoff following a tight race with Mubarak's last Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq. The campaigns deeply polarized the country.

Morsi has said that forming a national coalition government and a widely representative presidential team was a priority.

Ali anticipates the current military-backed government could remain in a caretaker role for a while. He says forming a new one "will take time."