BOGOTA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government announced on Monday that Gabriel Silva Lujan, director of National Coffee Producer Federation, was appointed as the new defense minister of Colombia by President Alvaro Uribe .

    Silva will take office in August. General Freddy Padilla is temporarily assuming the position as ex-minister Juan Manuel Santos resigned in May to prepare for the presidential election next year, the government said in a statement.

    "The president has appointed Dr. Gabriel Silva Lujan as the new defense minister of Colombia, and he also appreciates the work of General Freddy Padilla, who will leave the work of defense minister and continue as the commander of the National Military Forces," said Cesar Velasquez, secretary of the presidential press office.

    Silva, 49, worked as a counselor of international affairs for the government from 1990 to 1993, and was later appointed as the Colombian ambassador to the United States.

    Since 2002, he has been working as the director of Colombian National Coffee Producer Federation.