The inauguration of Egypt's interim government, which was sworn in on Tuesday, offers a ray of hope that the world's biggest Muslim country can emerge from the turmoil that has afflicted the country since the army ousted Mohamed Morsi last month.

But the interim government faces daunting challenges and any misstep could easily throw the country into even greater turmoil.

The absence of any figures from Islamist parties alone poses a formidable challenge for the interim government and will hinder the reconciliation process. Even though the new line-up was acceptable to the majority of the country's political and religious forces, without the participation and cooperation of Islamist parties, the Muslim Brotherhood in particular, the prospects for reconciliation look bleak.