Colombia's environmentminister, Ms Cecilia Rodriguez stepped down last night, the thirdcabinet minister to resign from President Alvaro Uribe'sgovernment within a week.
She was immediately replaced by Ms Sandra Sanchez, who had ledthe administration of the US-funded anti-drug Plan Colombia.
Mr Uribe, who took office 15 months ago, had expressed hisdesire to keep all his ministers for his four-year term.
But following the October 25th defeat of a cost-cuttingreferendum, Mr Uribe has launched a cabinet shake-up as he pushesharsh fiscal reforms in Congress.
Defence minister, Ms Marta Lucia Ramirez, who oversaw amilitary buildup, resigned on Sunday amid pressure from topgenerals angry at her management style and efforts to stamp outcorruption. She was Colombia's first female defense minister.