TUNIS - Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali carried out a far-reaching government reshuffle Wednesday, little more than two weeks after winning a fourth five-year term.
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi kept his job, but most other members of his cabinet were either shifted or replaced.
Culture Minister Abdelbaki Hermassi was named foreign minister in place of Habib Ben Yahia, who left the government, and was in turn replaced at the culture ministry by Mohamed Aziz Ben Achour.
Rafik Belhaj Kacem, a former presidential aide, was appointed minister of the interior, succeeding Hedi Mhenni, who became defense minister in place of the retiring Dali Jazi.
Former banker Afif Chelbi was named industry minister with additional responsibility for small and medium-sized businesses.
Mohamed Rachid Kechiche was named was named finance minister and former hotel-keeper Tijani Haddad became minister of tourism in place of Abderrahim Zouari, who became transport minister.
Rafaa Dekhil stepped down from the leadership of the national airline to become social affairs minister, and Montasser Waili became minister of technology and communication.
Ridha Kechride and Nadir Hamada became respectively ministers of health and environment, while Bechir Tekkar and Mohamed Nouri Jouini kept their jobs as ministers of justice and economic development.
Churches urge 'resistance' to Israeli settlements