Arab foreign ministers Thursday voted to appoint veteran Egyptian diplomat Ahmad Aboul-Gheit to the post of secretary-general of the Arab League.

Arab foreign ministers Thursday voted to appoint veteran Egyptian diplomat Ahmad Aboul-Gheit to the post of secretary-general of the Arab League.

He succeeds Nabil al-Araby, another Egyptian diplomat, who last month said he would not seek a second term in leading the Cairo-based organization. Al-Araby's five-year mandate ends June 30.

Aboul-Gheit, 73, was the sole contender for the position, and his choice comes at a critical time for the 22-member regional bloc.

Aboul-Gheit served as the last foreign minister under Egypt's president Hosny Mubarak, who stepped down in 2011.

Chiefs of the Arab League have always been Egyptians since the organization was created in 1945.

The only exception came in 1979 when the headquarters of the organization were moved from Cairo to Tunisia.

Chedli Klibi, a Tunisian politician, was selected for the position at that time.