The Brazilian President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, has eliminated the post of Sports Minister held by the former World Cup football star, Pele, as part of a cabinet reshuffle.

A presidential spokesman said responsibilities for the Sports Ministry, which had been specially created for Pele, will be handled by the Ministry of Education as before.

In other major changes, Renan Calheiros has been appointed as the new Justice Minister, and Waldeck Ornellas is Social Security Minister.

Correspondents say the new appointments appeared carefully designed to preserve the political balance of Mr Cardoso's multiparty alliance.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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