Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today (Aug 26, 2004) appointed Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri as Ambassador at large with Cabinet Minister's rank as the Cabinet headed by Shujaat Hussain resigned today to pave the way for a new ministry headed by Prime Minister designate Shaukat Aziz.

State run PTV said Musharraf appointed Kasuri as Ambassador at large, which will enable him to continue to attend to his duties during the interregnum.

Hussain resigned today and Musharraf has dissolved his cabinet.

The new ministry headed by outgoing Finance Minister Aziz would take over on August 28 after his election as leader of the house by the National Assembly on Aug 27.

Aziz's election was seen as a formality as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), has comfortable majority in the 342-member house.

Kasuri along with other top ministers were expected to retain their ministries while, Aziz was expected to induct new faces in some of the ministries concerning domestic affairs.