Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou presented his resignation to the cabinet on Tuesday in protest of President Mohamed Mursi’s decision to appoint an Islamist as the governor of Luxor. 

Prime Minister Hisham Kandil did not accept Zazou’s resignation and asked him to remain in his post until the cabinet studies the conflict, his press spokesperson Rasha al-Azazy told Egypt's state news agency on Wednesday. 

The appointment of Mohamed Adel al-Khayat, a member of the hardline group al-Gamaa al-Islamiya, which is blamed for the killing of 58 tourists in Luxor in 1997, has stirred anger, especially among those who work in tourism. 

Khayat told Reuters on Wednesday that, “Luxor is open to all tourists from all over the world. They are my main concern and are looked after by the state, which is responsible for their security and their wellbeing."