Afghanistan's parliament has rejected half of President Hamid Karzai's second list of cabinet nominees two weeks after voting down two-thirds of his first list.

MPs have approved seven candidates, including those for the key interior and justice ministries. One candidate, aged 31, was rejected for failing to meet the minimum age requirement of 34.
 

President Karzai is under intense international pressure to appoint ministers known for their professional skills rather than corruption scandals or links with warlords. Mr Karzai was re-elected last year for a second five-year term, despite evidence of widespread election fraud.

President Hamid Karzai (Photo: Wikimedia)