The Iranian parliament has approved the appointments of 18 of the 21 ministers nominated for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's new cabinet.

One of the ministers is the first woman to enter government in the 30 year history of the Islamic Republic. Gynaecologist Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi will be the Minister of Health. Two other women candidates for the ministries of Education and Welfare were rejected. The nominee for the energy ministry was also rejected.

The appointment of Ahmad Vahidi as minister of defence has angered Argentina and Jewish organisations. At Argentina's request, Interpol has issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Vahidi request for his alleged role in a bomb attack on a Jewish cultural centre in Buenos Aires. Eighty-five people were killed and 200 injured in the bombing.