Karzai's new cabinet

President Hamid Karzai presented his nominees for cabinet posts to parliament for approval.

The Afghan President has kept some key figures in their positions as Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim submitted a list of 23 names to the parliament.

Nominees include the current ministers of defence, interior, finance, health, education, justice, agriculture, telecommunication, energy, counter narcotics and women affairs.

Since his re-election, Mr Karzai has come under intense pressure from the United States and other backers to clean up his government and improve its performance.

Mr Karzai was last month declared the winner of the presidential election after a poll process marred by fraud.

Karzai's ministerial nominees must win the approval of parliamentarians in a process that could take days to complete, with each nominee making a speech to justify their appointment.

So far the list shows that only one women have been included in his new cabinet. Ministry of Women affairs.

List of nominees for cabinet posts
1-Minister of Defence: Mohamamd Rahim Wardak
2-Minister of Interior: Mohamamd Hanif Atmar
3-Minister of Finance: Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal
4-Minister of Public Health: Mohammad Amin Fatimi
5-Minister of Information and Culture: Makhdum Rahin
6-Minister of Energy and Water: Mohammad Ismaiel Khan
7-Minister of Mines: Waheedullah Sharani
8-Minister of Education: Farooq Wadak
9-Minister of Justice: Mohammad Sarwar Danish
10-Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technology: Amirzai Sangin
11-Minister of Commerce and Industries: Ghulam Mohammad Aylaqi
12-Minister of Agriculture: Mohammad Asef Rahimi
13-Minister of Women Affairs: Husn Banu Ghazanfar
14-Minister of Returnees and Refugees: Enayatullah Nazari
15-Minister of Islamic Affairs: Enayatullah Baligh
16-Minister of Border and Tribal Affairs: Sayed Hamid Gelani
17-Minister of Counter Narcotics: Gen Khudaidad
18-Minister of Higher Education: Obaidullah Obaid
19-Minister of Public Works: Engineer Mirza Hussain Abdullahi
20-Minister of Economy: Anwar ul Haq Ahadi
21-Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development: Engineer Wais Ahmad Barmak
22-Minister of Labour and Social Affairs: Mohammad Esmail Monshi
23-Minister of Transport: Dr Mohammadullah Batash

By Sadia Hasanzasa

Related links
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8422058.stm