AFP - Prime Minister of Burma and retired Gen. Thein Sein, was Friday appointed president of the country, officials said official sources at the end of a process that allows the junta to lock the power.
According to a timeline announced for several days, Thein Sein, including 47 to 65 years in the army, was promoted to the highest political position by a committee of MPs elected in the November elections, and appointed by the military junta .
"Thein Sein was elected by a majority of votes," said a senior Burmese official.
Tin Aung Myint Oo, also a former general, and Sai Kham Mouk, a member of the Shan ethnic group and part of the Solidarity Party and the Union Development (USDP, pro-junta) were in turn appointed Vice-Presidents.
Thein Sein will come in the weeks to form a government.
The only unknown of the new Burmese regime, but perhaps most important, concerned Than Shwe, 77, who ruled with an iron fist since 1992 and has, so far, given no information about his future.
If the army is unquestionably at the head of the country, will play the role as chief, also feared that powerful, is the subject of numerous rumors and speculation.
Burmese sources have assured that he would retire.
But analysts say that after a reign of terror in the country for nearly two decades, it will retain a function, even the background, to avoid retaliation and to ensure his safety and that of his clan.
