Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Thursday ratified a new constitution that calls for the sharing of power by the chief executive and parliament while introducing new reforms, officials of the Maldives High Commission said in Colombo.

President Gayoom addressed the nation before he ratified the new constitution. The signing was followed by a seven-gun salute, courtesy of the Maldives National Defence Force, the officials said.

A special short prayer was recited by the President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim.

Government spokesman Mohammed Shareef was quoted by the president's office as saying that the new constitution also embodies, for the first time, independent bodies for human rights, judiciary, police, defence, elections and corruption investigation.

The Maldivian opposition and international rights groups have been calling for democratic reforms in the country, claiming that Gayoom, who has been the president of the country since 1978, was ruling the country by suppressing the opposition.

The Maldivan Democratic Party, which has been mainly leading its campaign from Colombo with several of its senior members living overseas, had several members jailed during the campaign for reforms.

Under the new constitution some of the executive powers vested in the president are being distributed to other institutions including the parliament.

In future the cabinet appointed by the president needs to be approved by the parliament; parliament members cannot hold dual positions that would compromise their accountability; there will be an independent judiciary, supreme court and independent prosecutor general, while the supreme court will have final authority.

Regulations also will be in place to safeguard the rights of citizens from arbitrary arrest and detention. The president may proclaim a state of emergency but the parliament can veto the decision. A woman can become president and the president can have only two terms under the new constitution.

President Gayoom earlier said the new constitution was the result of the reform agenda and Maldives will hold its first multi-party elections before October 10 this year.