AMMAN, Jordan, March 30 (UPI) -- Jordanian King Abdullah swore in a new government Cabinet Saturday evening.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour put together a slimmed down Cabinet of just 18 ministers for his second term, which is the 13th since Abdullah became king in 1999 and the 77th government in Jordan's history, Ammon News reported. It is the fewest number of Cabinet members since 1967.
The Cabinet includes nine first-time ministers, five who served under previous prime ministers and four holdovers from Ensour's first term
The Cabinet includes one woman, Reem Abu Hassan, a women's rights activist who was secretary-general of the National Council for Family Affairs who will serve as Social Development minister.
Ensour named Maj. Gen. Hussein Hazza Majali, who was chief of the Public Security Department, to head up the Interior Ministry.
Mohammad Momani, director of the Jordan Media Institute, will head up a combined Media Affairs and Communications, Political Development, and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.
Barakat Owjan was appointed as minister of Culture and Malik Kabariti was chosen as minister of Energy.
The four holdovers include Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Judeh, Minister of Industry and Trade Hatem Halawani, Minister of Public Sector Development Ekhlaif Khawaldeh, and Minister of Labor and Transportation Nidal Qatamin.
