afrol News, 9 February - The Angolan parliament has elected the former prime-minister António Paulo Kassoma, as the new parliament speaker, replacing Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos.

State news agency, Angola Press said during the election and the swearing in of new ministers, other two members of parliament left the parliament to join the government namely the former leader of the ruling MPLA parliamentary bench, Bornito de Sousa, sworn in minister of territorial administration, and Carolina Cerqueira, the new Social Communication minister.

Mr Sousa replaces in the cabinet Virgílio de Fontes Pereira, who is joining the parliament together with Higino Carneiro, former Public Works minister, Aníbal Rocha, ex-governor of northern Cabinda region.

Last week, Angola's President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos named a new cabinet after the approval of the new constitution by legislature last month. The new constitution became effective last Friday paving the way for the new government to become operational.

Angola's new constitution replaces the prime minister with a vice-president and also allows Mr Dos Santos to prolong his 30-year rule in the oil-rich Southern African nation without a direct ballot.

The terms of the new constitution also means Angola is not likely to hold a national election until 2012.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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