New Defense Minister sworn in

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe swore in Gabriel Silva Lujan as the country’s new Defense Minister Friday.

Silva Lujan replaces Armed Forces General Freddy Padilly, who had temporarily assumed the position after former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos resigned to be allowed to run in the 2010 presidential election.

Silva Lujan was supposed to be sworn in in Boyaca where Uribe and the military top were to attend the commemoration of the battle of Boyaca, but bad weather forced the ceremony to take place on military airport Catam near Bogota.

Padilla will now serve as Armed Forces commander under Silva Lujan.