JAKARTA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed two decrees on the creation of a vice foreign minister post to fuel debates in the parliament, local press said Monday.

    Lawmakers gave mixed responses to the president's move, with some questioning the urgency of the new post and linking the policy to the 2009 elections.

    Others accepted the decision but demanded the government consult the House of Representatives on the appointment.

    Susilo has yet to name anyone for the post, but he or she will be given a status equal to a minister, reported major newspaper The Jakarta Post.

    Several names, including Foreign Ministry secretary general Imron Cotan, Ambassador to the United Nations Marty Natalegawa and presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal, have been mentioned as possible candidates.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Suryo Legowo said the ministry had proposed the new post as part of efforts to complete the reorganization of the ministry and embassies.

    "The creation aims at fulfilling main jobs and functions of the Foreign Ministry. In addition, we need a vice minister because the foreign minister often goes abroad while there are many foreign issues to be addressed at the domestic level," he told the newspaper.