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Over the past year and a half, Egypt has seen a dramatic surge in crime, deadly street protests, a faltering economy and seemingly non-stop strikes. Police have abandoned many of their duties, and public services, already in bad shape under Mubarak, have further declined. According to Fox News, lawlessness, economic troubles and public frustration have been growing in Egypt for months under the country's uncertain leadership. Egypt 's first elected president, Mohammed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood president has taken his first step to forming his own government, but there is deep public skepticism over his ability to fix anything amid a power struggle with the military. His decision to appoint a young, largely unknown technocrat, Hesham Kandil, as prime minister, is raising criticism that the choice is not experienced or strong enough to face the country's problems. Political fighting is putting heavy limitations on the new government. The military, which ruled the country since last year's ouster of Hosni Mubarak, still holds overwhelming powers, including legislative authority. Powerful security agencies are largely out of Morsi's control, even though officially they fall under his preview. Liberal parties have refused Morsi's calls to join a unity government, saying they do not want to carry out the Muslim Brotherhood's agenda, and added that the Brotherhood should bear responsibility for its results. "One would expect the choice to be someone who understands economic policies or has a proven record and achievement as a technocrat. He has neither. What he does have is a beard and he is religious," said Mahmoud Salem, a liberal activist. Saad Emara, a leading member of the Brotherhood's political party, said others should back the government, but aren't doing so to undermine Morsi. "The country is weak enough that it needs cooperation of all forces. We need to be one hand. The opposition doesn't want that. It just doesn't want an Islamist in the leading position," he added.

Egypt teetering under new President