ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday announced a partial reshuffle in his cabinet after three ministers, long expected to be sacked, resigned from their posts.
Erdogan told reporters that Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu, Civil Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen and Women Affairs State Minister Guldal Aksit had submitted in their resignations.
The Turkish media had long been reporting that the three were likely to be axed following criticism that they were unsuccessful.
"These are normal things in a cabinet," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said he had appointed Mehmet Mehdi Eker, a 49-year-old veterinarian and agricultural expert, to take over the agriculture portfolio, while Faruk Nafis Ozak, a 59-year-old construction engineer, would take over the housing portfolio.
Nimet Cubuk, a 40-year-old lawyer, was appointed as the new minister responsible for women's affairs, becoming the only woman minister in the 22-member cabinet.
"The new ministers have been approved by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer," Erdogan said.
Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has its roots in a banned Islamist party, has been in power on its own since winning a major victory in general elections in 2002.
06/02/2005 15:16 GMT