Iraq gets new interior minister

The Iraqi Minister for Irrigation, Mahmoud Diyab al-Ahmed, has been given the additional job of interior minister, after the removal, on Monday, of Mohammad Zimam Abdel Razzak.

However, Mr Ahmed is to serve at the interior ministry only in an acting capacity.

The outgoing interior minister, Mohammad Zamam Abdul Razzak, has been assigned to the northern provinces of Kirkuk and Niniveh, where he will be Ba'ath party chief.

In another move, President Saddam Hussein dismissed one of his three deputy prime ministers, Mohammad Hamza al-Zubaidi.

It's not yet clear whether Mr Zubeidi will be found other work.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service