August 9, 2006
Chavez Names Venezuela Congressman Maduro Foreign Minister

(Bloomberg) - "Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez appointed congressional President Nicolas Maduro as foreign minister, replacing Alí Rodríguez.

Maduro resigned as president of the National Assembly to take the post, the Communications and Information Ministry said in a statement. Chávez also named Congressman José Khan as Basic Industries and Mining minister, replacing Víctor Álvarez, the Information Ministry said.

Both Rodríguez and Álvarez stepped down because of 'health problems', the Information Ministry said".