Nabil Fahmy, a career diplomat who served as Egyptian ambassador to the United States from 1999 to 2008, has agreed to serve as foreign minister in the interim government being put in place by Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi.

The announcement by the presidency on Sunday followed reports that the current foreign minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr, decided not to continue in the post, saying new leadership is needed. During demonstrations against President Mohamed Mursi that led to his ouster, Amr expressed solidarity with the demands of the protesters and tendered his resignation.

Since 2008, Fahmy has been ambassador-at-large at the Foreign Ministry and the founding dean of the School of Public Affairs at the American University in Cairo.

Also on Sunday, Mohamed ElBaradei was sworn in on Sunday as Egypt’s interim vice president for foreign relations, according to agency reports.