Hardline ex-general named to be new Myanmar VP

A former general known as a political hardliner has been nominated to fill the recently vacated position of Myanmar's vice president.

One of the military's representatives in parliament said Tuesday that his bloc has nominated Myint Swe to fill the job that Tin Aung Myint Oo vacated earlier this month for health reasons. Myint Swe has been serving in the important position of chief minister of the Yangon region, with responsibility over the country's biggest city and commercial center.

Myanmar has two vice presidents, and the military has the right to name one of them. Parliamentary approval of his nomination is just a formality. The constitution also reserves 25 percent of the seats in parliament for the military, although reformist President Thein Sein came to power through election.