CARACAS (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez left his post amid health complaints and was replaced by the country's top legislator on Tuesday. "Ali Rodriguez has had some health problems and he should recover," announced President Hugo Chavez during an evening speech. "I have designated Nicolas Maduro as the new foreign minister as of today."

Rodriguez, 68, spent several weeks this year in Cuba in therapy for a knee problem, and was hospitalized for heart problems in July.

He headed OPEC from 2001 to 2002, when he quit his job as OPEC chief to become president of Venezuela's state-owned oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela. He later was appointed by Chavez as foreign minister.

Maduro, president of the country's National Assembly (parliament), announced his resignation on Tuesday evening, shortly before Chavez announced his new post.