President Gayoom has been ruling the Maldives for 25 years

Asia's longest serving leader had held the posts since taking office in 1978. A statement promised further changes.

Mr Gayoom was criticised after pro-democracy protesters were arrested in August. He accuses them of attempting a coup.

A Maldivian Democratic Party spokesman dismissed the changes, saying the president was playing "musical chairs".

"How can he be serious about introducing political reform when between 80 to 100 activists for democracy remain locked up in jail in appalling conditions?" Mohamed Nasheed told the BBC.