Maldives new president makes appointments targeted at reconciliation

Newly elected Maldives President Abdulla Yameen is busy selecting officials for his new government with two new appointments being made on Wednesday, local media reported. Yameen has appointed Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) council member, former Minister of Youth Mohamed Hussain Shareef as minister at the President's Office. The president also appointed former Minister of Economic Development Ahmed Mohamed as commissioner general of customs. The letters of appointment were presented to Ahmed Mohamed and Mohamed Hussain Shareef at an event in the President's Office. Ahmed Mohamed was appointed commissioner general of customs at the level of minister. "Ahmed Mohamed and Mohamed Hussain Shareef both held cabinet seats during the former administration of President Mohammad Waheed," local media outlet Sun said. Yameen came to power after a prolonged and controversial election that spanned over three months and resulted in a constitutional crisis. The new president has lost no time in making a slew of new appointments and holding talks with the Opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) to end months of political infighting during a bitter election race. Maldives political landscape has been on edge since former President Mohammad Nasheed was controversially ousted from power in February 2012 in what he alleged was a coup.