GENEVA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss cabinet on Wednesday formally appointed Didier Burkhalter as the new interior minister to succeed Pascal Couchepin who stepped down at the end of October, the official Swissinfo.ch news website reported.

    Burkhalter's portfolios include health, social security, culture as well as science and research, according to the report.

    The 49-year-old former senator, who was elected by parliament in September, will also act as deputy economics minister.

    Burkhalter is one of two representatives of the centre-right Radical Party in the seven-member multi-party government.