BUENOS AIRES, July 23 (Xinhua) - Argentine President Cristina Fernandez on Wednesday named Sergio Massa as cabinet chief after accepting the resignation of Alberto Fernandez.

    Alberto Fernandez resigned on Wednesday morning, and is to take a new position offered by Massa at president's request on Thursday.

    Alberto Fernandez offered to resign after the Senate rejected a government-backed tax hike on soy exports, state news agency Telamsaid.

    Massa, 36, is the mayor of the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre. Before that he served as director of Anses, Argentina's social security agency.

    The Senate's rejection of the tax rise to agricultural products and livestock exports also led to the resignation of agricultural secretary Javier de Urquiza who was replaced on Wednesday by Carlos Cheppi.