Manama: Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa on Sunday reappointed Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa as the country's prime minister.
The appointment was announced in a royal order published by Bahrain News Agency a short time after the government submitted its resignation to King Hamad, following the completion of the quadrennial parliamentary and municipal elections.
The decision to hand in the resignation is based on Article 33 of the constitution that stipulates that the government should resign at the beginning of a new legislative term, Prince Khalifa said at the weekly cabinet meeting.
The resignation was accepted by the King who requested Prince Khalifa to select the members of the new cabinet.
Paying tribute to the outgoing ministers, Prince Khalifa said he appreciated their contributions to the success of the government in the last four years.
Bahrain is now rife with speculations about the names of the ministers who will leave or join the government.
"Aptitude, competence, productivity and allegiance to the nation are the criteria for any government position," Prince Khalifa said earlier on the day as he received senior officials.
