( CNN ) -- Egypt 's antiquities minister , Zahi Hawass , said Friday he plans to step down to protest police inaction as the country 's ancient treasures are being looted and vandalized . `` The police can not do enough , or anything to protect Egypt 's antiquities and treasures , and I ca n't stand by while that happens , '' he said . `` It is a protest really , that not enough can be done now to protect these sites and treasures . '' Hawass said two dozen sites have been looted or vandalized since the uprising that led to the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak . Hawass said he has not resigned yet but will if asked by new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf . Sharaf , a former transport minister tapped to be the post this week , is in the process of forming a new Cabinet . Hawass said he does not intend to be a part of it . `` I have no interest in doing that at all , '' he said . Hawass , former secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities , was appointed to the post of the antiquities minister on January 30 under Mubarak .
Hawass : The police can not do enough to protect Egypt 's treasures . He says two dozen sites have been looted or vandalized in recent days . `` I have no interest '' in joining the new Cabinet , he says . He was appointed to the post by Mubarak .