NATO welcomes Karzai's nomination of new Afghan cabinet

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's long-awaited list of cabinet nominees was formally presented Saturday to parliament for approval, with no changes in current key ministerial posts.
"I welcome the next step in the formation of the new Afghan government, the nomination by President Karzai of a partial list of candidates for cabinet positions," Rasmussen said.
"I share President Karzai's view that the Afghan people deserve an effective government characterized by integrity and professionalism and welcome his stated commitment to fighting corruption."
Current Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar and Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhelwal, who are all favoured by Western powers, were among the 23 nominees.
The new list is seen as a major test of Karzai's pledge to change course. The president has seen his popularity in the West decline over his inability to root out corruption and bring peace to Afghanistan eight years after the fall of the Taliban, Kazinform cites Trend News. See www.en.trend.az for full version.