JERUSALEM, Israel -- Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi swore in the new cabinet Thursday, distributing the posts among Islamists and secularists.

Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi retained the defense minister post, along with six other ministers from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces' (SCAF) interim government, including Finance Minister Mumtaz al-Said and Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr, al-Jazeera reported. 

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party were given four cabinet seats, including the education ministry.

The distribution of posts in the 35-member cabinet reveals that "SCAF is still a very important political player in the country," said al-Jazeera reporter Sherine Tadros.

"People are already talking about whether this lineup is Morsi's choice or the military's choice," Tadros said.

Prime Minister Hesham Qandil told the press he selected ministers based on experience and called on Egyptians to stop using the terms "them" and "us."

"We are the people's government. We do not represent any trend," Qandil said. "The coming period is not easy, to say the least, and we are all in the same boat."