Turkish Cabinet members approved by Gul

ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved a list of prospective Cabinet members on Wednesday in one of his first acts as the nation's new leader.

With former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer agreeing to let his successor approve Turkey's next Cabinet, Gul approved the entire list of candidates he was given by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, The New Anatolian said.

While Wednesday's meeting between Gul and Erdogan had been expected to merely be a formality, it ultimately lasted more than an hour.

Among the individuals nominated by Erdogan and approved by Gul were Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Education Minister Huseyin Celik, Health Minister Recep Akdag and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.

The New Anatolian said that Gul recently vowed to work with all of his country's politicians, no matter what their party affiliations may be.

"My door will be open to all. I will be in close cooperation with all political parties and civil society organizations without bias," Gul said during his first presidential speech.