A Royal Decree was issued Thursday appointing former prime minister Taher Masri as Senate president, succeeding Zeid Rifai who quit the post earlier this week.

Two other decrees issued were issued, dissolving the 55-member Upper House as of 17 December, 2009, and appointing the 55 members of the Senate.

Those appointed included eight former prime ministers. They are Masri, Fayez Tarawneh, Abdur-Ra'uf S. Rawabdeh, Ali Abul Ragheb, Faisal Fayez, Adnan Badran, Marouf Bakhit and Nader Dahabi.

In addition, former Lower House speaker Abdul Hadi Majali was appointed as a member of the Senate.

Masri sent a letter to His Majesty King Abdullah, stressing that he and the other senators will strive meet the responsibilities entrusted to them to advance development and reform process, while observing justice and equality.

He also pledged that the Senate will work to apply the principles stipulated in the Constitution.