Bogota, July 28 (EFE) Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has named Gabriel Silva as the country’s new defence minister.

Silva, who will succeed Juan Manuel Santos, will join office in August.

Juan Manuel Santos resigned from his post in May.

Colombian Armed Forces chief Gen. Freddy Padilla de Leon ran the defence ministry on an interim basis after his resignation.

Gabriel Silva earlier worked with the National Coffee Growers Federation.