Maldives president continues with government formation

Newly elected Maldives President Abdulla Yameen continued with the process of government formation and has sent the names of six more cabinet members to parliament for approval.

The president earlier sent the names of five ministers for parliamentary approval after he was elected Nov 16, Xinhua reported citing local media Tuesday.

The five members of the cabinet whose names were sent for parliamentary approval are: Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed for post of Islamic minister, Umar Naseer for mome minister, Mohamed Muizzu for housing minister, Mohamed Shainee for fisheries minister, Thorig Ibrahim for environment minister, and Mohamed Saeed for economic minister.

According to Article 129 (4) of the the Maldives' Constitution, the president should submit to parliament, within seven days of making appointments to the cabinet, the names of the appointees for approval.

Parliament has forwarded the names of the five cabinet ministers to the government oversight committee.

Yameen came to power after a prolonged election battle that lasted over two months with three attempts at holding a conclusive vote.

He beat former president Mohammad Nasheed and is the second democratically elected president of the Indian Ocean nation made up of over 1100 small and big islands.