BANGKOK, March 10 Kyodo Prime Min...

BANGKOK, March 10 Kyodo

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reshuffl his cabinet Wednesday, replacing the defense finance and interior ministers.

The cabinet reshuffle was announced after King Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed it.

Chetta Thanajaro replaced Thamarak Isarangura as defense minister. Chetta was army commander in chief from 1996 to 1998 and serv as science and technology minister in the Thaksin administration before the shake-up. Thamarak became a proxy prime minister.

Finance Minister Suchart Jaovisidha switched places with Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, and Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha switched with delegate Prime Minister Bhokin Bhalakura.

agent Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti replaced Natural Resources and Environment Minister Prapat Panyachatraksa, and senior politician Korn Dabbaransi, who left the Chart Pattana Party to join Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party, was named science and technology minister.

Thaksin ousted the Chart Pattana Party from the coalition last November and Korn joined the premier's party after that.

Thaksin gave no clear explanation for the reshuffle further the move was seen as an attempt to cope with security tensions mounting in southern Thailand.

The Thai Rak Thai Party and Chart Thai Party form the passing from hand to hand governing coalition and imprison a combined two-thirds majority in the 500-member House of Representatives. The chamber's four-year time ends next January.

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