President Gayoom is Asia's longest-serving leader

Mr Gayoom, who has been president since 1978, won more than 90% of votes in a referendum last month in which he was the only candidate.

His return to office with the promise of reforms comes after unprecedented civil unrest in the Maldives' capital, Male, in September.

The human rights group, Amnesty International, said the violence was a reaction to torture and repression.

In September's unrest, the rioters burnt government buildings after security forces killed two prisoners during a jail protest.

Reforms promised

Mr Gayoom denies Amnesty's accusations.

After taking the oath of office on Tuesday, he promised to reform national institutions.

MALDIVES BASICS 1,200 islands in archipelago Population is over 300,000 Majority is Sunni Muslim One-party rule since 1978 Low-lying islands vulnerable to rise in sea-levels

"Over the next five years, my administration will bring about changes to the judiciary, the executive and the powers of the parliament," he said, without detailing what these changes would be.

He added that a human rights commission would be established in the capital, Male.

September's riots rocked the image of the Maldives as a sleepy atoll of sandy islands in the Indian Ocean.

Mr Gayoom, Asia's longest-serving leader, has attributed the economic boom since he took office to his policy of encouraging wealthy Westerners to stay at the Maldives' upmarket island resorts.