His statements came one day before Arab foreign ministers are set to meet in Cairo to decide whether to endorse face-to-face negotiations.

VOA: standard.2010.07.28

The economic issues the new ministers face are severe enough without the additional handicap of a poor image.

CNN: FORTRESS SUHARTO

Mr Bird and several of his former ministers face corruption charges relating to events during their long stay in office.

ECONOMIST: The Stanford affair

Meanwhile, Ros Altmann, director general of over-50s organisation Saga and a former government adviser on pensions, said ministers could face a costly legal challenge if they did not make changes.

BBC: Government defiant over women's pension age change