Salehi approved as Iran's new FM

TEHERAN, Iran - Iran's parliament on Sunday narrowly approved President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's choice of Ali Akbar Salehi as foreign minister after his predecessor was abruptly sacked during an official visit to Africa last year.

The lawmakers' verdict on Salehi is seen as a test of the hardline president's support in parliament, after his disputed re-election in 2009 which caused a rift among the country's hardline rulers.

"Salehi secured the vote of confidence from the legislative body by getting 146 votes," parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said. Parliament has 294 seats and 243 MPs were present for the vote on Sunday.