Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has replaced three ministers in a cabinet reshuffle seen as an effort to counter a corruption scandal by bringing more allies into government.
The changes were the first step of a cabinet reshuffling that could improve the government's chances of riding out its worst crisis as well as Mr Lula's 2006 re-election bid in the world's fourth largest democracy.
The new mines and energy, health and communications ministers all came from the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). Further cabinet changes could include the political coordination and cities portfolios, analysts said.
Mr Lula's government has been under pressure since last month when a lawmaker from a small allied party accused the ruling Workers' Party of paying some lawmakers for support in Congress for its policies.
The bribe-for-votes scandal has prompted Cabinet chief Jose Dirceu's resignation and two senior officials from the Workers' Party, including its treasurer, stepped down this week. All deny the accusations.
To bolster his government's power in Congress, which has become consumed by a series of investigations to examine the scandal, Mr Lula offered the PMDB more cabinet posts and a say in policies in return for support in Congress.
The incoming ministers will replace one outgoing PMDB minister and two from the Workers' Party.