PARIS - FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy has replaced the government's ministers of immigration and labor in a reshuffle of the Cabinet.
Mr Sarkozy also abolished the position of junior minister for ecology and rearranged the heirarchy of the labor and housing ministries.
The president announced the widely expected shake-up on Thursday.
Mr Brice Hortefeux is leaving the Immigration Ministry, where he had been dubbed the 'minister of fear' by pro-immigrant groups for expelling illegal immigrants. Mr Hortefeux is now taking charge of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, where he will deal with France's vocal labor unions.
Former Labor Minister Xavier Bertrand is taking over the helm of Mr Sarkozy's conservative party UMP. -- AP
