Peru's Toledo shakes up cabinet

Many Peruvians feel the president has not lived up to his promises

Seven posts in the Peruvian cabinet have been reshuffled as the government attempts to tackle widespread dissatisfaction with its performance.

All the newcomers in the 16-member cabinet - including Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who has returned as finance minister - are politically independent.

The crisis facing President Alejandro Toledo is reflected in opinion polls, which put his approval rating at 8%.

It is the fifth cabinet reshuffle in President Toledo's 32-month rule.

Prime Minister Carlos Ferrero announced new ministers to head the ministries of finance, justice, education, health, work, production and transport on Sunday.

The changes mean 12 of the 16 cabinet posts will be held by people without affiliation to any political party.

Nothing will change with this make-over Cesar Zumaeta American Popular Revolutionary Alliance, Peru's largest opposition party

Mr Kuczynski - an investment banker widely respected on Wall Street - returns to his old job of finance minister after 19 months' absence, in a move seen as an attempt to boost confidence among investors.

A string of scandals has drastically eroded public support for the president, who swept to power in July 2001 on pledges he would crack down on corruption after 10 years under former President Alberto Fujimori.

The latest came last month, when Mr Toledo's friend and close former adviser Cesar Almeyda was placed under house arrest.

Mr Almeyda, the former head of the National Intelligence Council, was accused of secret meetings with corrupt associates of the disgraced former president, Alberto Fujimori.