BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Argentina completed a major cabinet overhaul on Thursday as new ministers of foreign affairs, defense, economy and social development took up their posts.

    Felisa Miceli, 51, replaced Roberto Lavagna as economy minister. Nilda Garre will take the post of defense minister from Jose Pampuro. Both of them will be the first female ministers in Argentine history.

    Jorge Taiana and Juan Carlos Nadalich were sworn in as the new foreign minister and social development minister, replacing Rafael Bielsa and Alicia Kirchner, respectively.

    The reshuffle was a result of parliamentary elections on Oct. 23. Alice Kirchner, sister of President Nestor Kirchner was elected senator for the southern province of Santa Cruz. Bielsa and Pampuro were also elected to Congress.

    New Economy Minister Miceli vowed Thursday to adhere to her predecessor's policies.

    "We will continue with the tasks at hand, particularly given the worries manifested by this government over the issue of inflation," said Miceli. Enditem