New Iranian cabinet

The Iranian president Muhammad Khatami, who has just begun his second five year term, named his cabinet today.

He's brought in five new ministers and moved one minister to a new post.

All the new ministers are moderate reformers, the most notable inclusion being that of the reformist politician, Tahmaseb Mazaheri, as economy minister, replacing Hossein Namazi, who was a hardliner.

The minister of co-operatives, Morteza Haji, was transferred to the ministry of education.

The ministers of foreign affairs, intelligence, defence, oil and the interior retained their posts.

The Iranian parliament must ratify the appointments, and will begin debating them next Sunday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service