Solomon Islands new PM announces cabinet

The Solomon Islands new Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Friday announced his cabinet.

The new government is keeping to the 10 Ministries and 21 Departments, according to a statement on the government's official website.

The two MPs jailed due to offenses related to last month's riots, Charles Dausabea and Nelson Ne'e, were appointed minister of police and national security and the minister of culture and tourism respectively.

The riots on April 18 and 19 were sparked by Snyder Rini's election as the Pacific nation's prime minister. The opposition said the election was fixed.

Rini resigned last week after a number of members of his government coalition crossed the floor to the opposition.

Sogavare was elected as prime minister Thursday and sworn in hours later.

Patteson Oti was named foreign minister and the department of finance and treasury portfolio has been given to former prime minister, Bartholomew Ulufa'alu.

Most of the ministers have been sworn in at Government House in the capital of Honiara Thursday afternoon. The rest will be sworn in during the weekend.

Source: Xinhua