Maldives leader names tourism minister as his deputy after previous vice president is ousted

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2014 file photo, Maldivian President Yameen Abdul Gayoom, accompanied by his wife Fathimath Ibrahim, arrives in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Gayoom appointed his trusted tourism minister as vice president on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, a day after parliament ousted his former deputy on negligence charges. Gayoom swore in Ahmed Adeeb as vice president at a closed ceremony. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File) (The Associated Press)

MALE, Maldives – The president of the Maldives has appointed his trusted tourism minister as vice president a day after parliament ousted his former deputy on negligence charges.

President Yameen Abdul Gayoom swore in Ahmed Adeeb as vice president at a closed ceremony Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Adeeb's appointment was widely expected since lawmakers started a process to impeach Mohamed Jameel, who had been Gayoom's vice president since they were elected in 2013.

Jameel was ousted Tuesday after 78 of 80 lawmakers voted in favor of the impeachment motion. Jameel, who is in Britain and did not answer the charges, said in a statement that he had been sidelined and prevented from performing his duties.

The Maldives is an Indian Ocean archipelago nation known for its upscale tourist resorts.