Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was sworn in as Spain's 50th prime minister at the Zarzuela palace, April 17.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

  
Zapatero with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the inauguration ceremony.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    MADRID, April 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was sworn in on Saturday as Spain's 50th prime minister by King Juan Carlos at the Zarzuela palace near Madrid.

    The ceremony was also attended by Queen Sofia, outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and the chief judge of the supreme court.

    Spain's parliament on Friday approved Zapatero as prime minister with 183 votes for, 148 against and 19 abstentions.

    Zapatero, 44, a career politician with a law degree, has servedin parliament since 1986 but never in government. He has been leader of Spain's Socialist Party since March 2000.

    Overshadowed by the Madrid terrorist bombings on March 11 that killed 191 people, the Socialist Party defeated the ruling People's Party in the March 14 general elections and became the largest party in the parliament.

    Zapatero has pledged to bring the 1,300 Spanish troops in Iraq back home if the United Nations does not play a central role thereby June 30. Enditem

Spanish prime minister announces new cabinet

    MADRID, April 17 (Xinhuanet) -- New Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced Saturday the 16 members of his cabinet and gave the list to King Juan Carlos.

    The leader of the Spanish Socialist Party picked a cabinet formed by eight men and eight women that are to be sworn in Sunday.

    Below is the list of the incoming cabinet:

    First deputy prime minister and minister for the prime minister's office: Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega

    Second deputy prime minister and Finance Minister: Pedro SolbesMira

    Foreign and Cooperation Minister: Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube

    Justice Minister: Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar

    Interior Minister: Jose Antonio Alonso Suarez

    Defense Minister: Jose Bono Martinez

    Promotion Minister: Magdalena Alvarez Arza

    Education and Science Minister: Maria Jesus Sansegundo Gomez deCadilanos

    Work and Social Affairs Minister: Jesus Caldera Sanchez-Capitan

    Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister: Jose Montilla Aguilera

    Agriculture, Fishing and Food Minister: Elena Espinosa Mangana

    Public Administration Minister: Jordi Sevilla Segura

    Culture Minister: Carmen Calvo Poyato

    Health and Consumption Minister: Elena Salgado Mendez

    Housing Minister: Maria Antonia Trujillo Rincon

    Environment Minister: Cristina Narbona Ruiz. Enditem