Egypt's government resigns amid corruption probe of detained former agriculture minister

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, file photo, Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab speaks during a press conference in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's prime minister has resigned after coming under criticism. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File) (The Associated Press)

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FILE - In this Saturday, July 5, 2014, file photo Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab speaks during a a televised news conference at his office in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's prime minister has resigned after coming under criticism. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File) (The Associated Press)

In this photo provided by Egypt's state news agency MENA, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, right, meets with Petroleum Minister Sheriff Ismail in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and his Cabinet resigned Saturday in the face of intense criticism from state-friendly media that reflects growing discontent but stops short of faulting el-Sissi, the former general who led the overthrow of an Islamist president two years ago. El-Sissi tasked Ismail with forming a new Cabinet within a week. (MENA via AP) (The Associated Press)

Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and his Cabinet have resigned after coming under fire for a series of controversial statements and a corruption investigation that led to the arrest of the agriculture minister last week.

The office of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Saturday that he had accepted the resignation but that the ministers would continue to serve until a new body is appointed.

Agriculture Minister Salah el-Din Helal was detained Monday after tendering his resignation amid an investigation into allegations that he and others received over $1 million in bribes.

The Egyptian government has long been plagued by corruption allegations. El-Sissi routinely emphasizes that he is fighting corruption.

Mehleb walked out of a press conference in Tunisia earlier this week after being asked about the corruption allegations.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/egypts-government-resigns-amid-corruption-probe-of-detained-former-agriculture-minister