Burma ex-Prime Minster Thein Sein named new president
Burma’s parliament has named former general and outgoing prime minister Thein Sein as the country’s first civilian president after nearly 50 years of military rule.
Thein Sein is an ally of top general Than Shwe. His vice-presidents will be Tin Aung Myint Oo and Sai Mauk Kham.
All three are members of the military-backed USDP party, which won a large majority in November’s polls.
The election - Burma’s first in 20 years - was widely condemned as a sham.
Thein Sein, a career soldier who first joined the military government in 1997, will now appoint ministers to serve in his new administration.
Critics say they expect most senior positions to go to other retired or still serving military officers.
Than Shwe, the general who has ruled Burma since 1992, did not run for the president and it remains unclear what role he will play in the future.
Analysts say the 77-year-old is unlikely to relinquish all power and is expected to either remain as head of the powerful military or take a significant behind-the-scenes political position.