Egypt's Mubarak-appointed PM resigns

CAIRO - Egypt's military rulers say the prime minister appointed by ousted President Hosni Mubarak has resigned, meeting a key demand of the opposition protest movement.

Former air force officer Ahmed Shafiq was named prime minister by Mubarak shortly after the Jan. 25 outbreak of massive anti-government protests. Mubarak stepped down Feb. 11, but Shafiq stayed in office at the head of a caretaker government.

Leaders of the 18-day uprising that forced Mubarak to step down have been pressing the military to fire Shafiq.

A brief statement posted Thursday by the military on its official website said it had chosen former Transport Minister Essam Sharaf as the new prime minister and tasked him with forming a new Cabinet.