Celso Amorim, who served as a high-profile foreign minister under former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is to become the country's new defence minister, the Brazilian Presidency has confirmed. Nelson Jobim resigned late Thursday from the defence portfolio. Hours earlier, the public had learnt of criticism he made of the government and of several Cabinet colleagues in an interview with a magazine. Jobim had been defence minister since 2007, starting under Lula. He had already caused unease within the government last month, when he told reporters he had voted for Rousseff's rival for the presidency in last year's election, Jose Serra. Thursday's final meeting between Jobim and Rousseff reportedly lasted just five minutes. Immediately afterwards, the president named Amorim - who served as foreign minister 2003-10 - as his successor.
