Ministerial candidate Mohamed Attia may appoint female governors, he told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Wednesday. Attia, who is currently under consideration for the post of local development minister, said that female candidates would be chosen by other women working in local administration.

"This trend is a new development for women working in the field of local administration,” said Attia. “As long as women are able to give, the government has no objection to them holding the position of governor."

Women's human rights organizations denounce the practice of excluding women from governorships and demand that women be given the opportunity.

On Wednesday, six human rights organizations issued a statement which included sharp criticism of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf for failing to include women in the new cabinet he proposes.

Attia said he requested files of all female leaders working in local administration, to discuss with the prime minister the possibility of appointing them to governorships.