Afghan Parilament Approves New Interior Minister, Other Posts

Afghanistan's new interior minister, Besmillah Mohammadi

Afghanistan's parliament today approved President Hamid Karzai's nominations for interior minister and two other posts, but rejected his nominees for the transportation and civil aviation ministries.

The new interior minister is army chief General Besmillah Mohammadi, a former commander in the Northern Alliance who took part in the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.

He replaces Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who resigned earlier this month after a rocket attack targeted a June 2 national peace conference.

Parliament also approved the former governor of Kandahar province, Assadullah Khalid, as minister of border and tribal affairs, and former Finance Minister Anwarul Haq Ahadi as commerce minister.

Karzai submitted seven nominees for 12 vacant cabinet posts.

compiled from agency reports