Iran MPs approve Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ally as foreign minister

Iran's parliament narrowly approved hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's choice for foreign minister on Sunday, after the previous minister was abruptly sacked during an official visit to Africa last year.

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

"Salehi secured the vote of confidence from the legislative body by getting 146 votes," parliament speaker Ali Larijani said.      

Sunday's vote in favour of Salehi -- 146 of the 243 MPs present, just over half -- will be a relief to Ahmadinejad, who has faced growing criticism from parliamentarians who mainly accuse him of concentrating power in his own hands and riding roughshod over the views of lawmakers.