12:30/09:01:2010

President Hamid Karzai's 16 new cabinet picks including three women appeared before the Wolesi Jirga for approval today, hours after the parliament was called into session.

Second Vice-President Karim Khalili introduced the nominees to legislators for vetting and voting. Two more nominations are going to be made by the president shortly. Importantly, none of the rejected nominees were among the new picks.

Khalili spoke briefly about the backgrounds of the ministers-designate and delivered a short speech to lawmakers. The candidates' documents will be examined on Sunday. A day later, the cabinet picks will inform the Lower House of their respective plans and priorities.

d 17 of the 24 cabinet nominees.

Introduced to parliamentarians today were:

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Zalmay Rasul;

Minister of Public Health Dr Suraya Daleel;

Minister of Justice Habibullah Ghalib;

Minister of Women's Affairs Palwasha Hasan;

Minister of Counter-narcotics Zarar Ahmed Moqbil;

Minister of Transport and Aviation Abdur Rahim Orasi;

Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Jarullah Mansoori;

Minister of Hajj and Auqaf Dr. Yousaf Niazi;

Minister of Higher Education Dr. Muhammad Hashim Esmat Elahi;

Minister of Public Welfare Eng. Muhammad Bashir Laali;

Minister of Trade and Industry Muhammad Hadi Hakimi;

Minister of Economy Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal;

Minister of Refugee Affairs Eng. Abdul Rahim;

Minister of Labour & Manpower/Martyrs and Disabled Affairs Amina Afzali;

Minister of Frontiers & Tribal Affairs Arsala Jamal; and

Minister of Urban Development Eng. Sultan Hussain Isari.

Khalili informed Wolesi Jirga members ministers of communication and water and power would be name soon. Amirzai Sangin and Ismail Khan, respectively nominated for the portfolios by Karzai earlier, were refused the trust vote. In a setback to the president, the Wolesi Jirga rejecte