Karzai nominates new Afghan Cabinet members

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan government spokesman says President Hamid Karzai has officially nominated four people to Cabinet positions proposed last week but so far held back from the rumored wider reshuffle.

Administration affairs department spokesman Rafi Ferdous says Karzai officially filled four posts: former Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi as defense minister, former northern police chief Mushtaba Patang as interior minister, Border and Tribal Affairs Minister Assadullah Khalid as head of the country's spy agency and former Kabul Gov. Azizullah Din Mohammad in Khalid's vacated post.

Parliament must still approve the nominees. Ferdous said he had no information on whether more appointments were to come.

Previously, people close to the administration had said they expected new appointees for attorney general and the head of the country's election commission.