BAGHDAD, May 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's newly appointed human rights minister rejected his post on Sunday, saying he was only appointed for sectarian reasons.

    "Focusing on sectarian identities could lead the country to sectarian strife, therefore, I respectfully decline the post," Hashim al-Shibli told reporters in Baghdad.

    Shibli was one of the four Sunni Arab ministers appointed on Sunday to join prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari's cabinet.A total of seven posts in the 36-member transitional government including defense minister and one deputy prime minister were given to the minority Sunni Arabs which dominated Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rule but was sidelined with only 17 seats in the 275-seat parliament after the Jan.30 elections.

    Iraq's National Assembly approved the nominations to fill six vacant portfolios on Sunday, including a deputy prime minister and ministers of defense, industry, human rights, oil and electricity.

    One of the four deputy prime minister remains to be appointed.

    The approval virtually ended months of haggling between leading blocs over power allocation. Enditem