Sarkozy reshuffles French Cabinet

PARIS, June 24 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has replaced eight Cabinet ministers in what he called the second phase of his administration.

The winners in the reshuffling included right-wing loyalists while glamorous women from ethnic minorities who were part of Sarkozy's initial Cabinet were among the losers, The Times of London reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who is of North African origin, was replaced with Interior Minister and Gaullist veteran Michele Alliot Marie, 62. Dati, 42, reportedly ran afoul of Sarkozy in January and last month won election to the European Parliament.

Also appointed as part of the president's "second phase" was Sarkozy's old friend and longtime lieutenant Brice Hortefeux to replace Marie as Interior Minister, while Senegal native and human rights minister Rama Yade, 34, was demoted to junior minister for sports, replacing the fired former French national rugby coach Bernard Laporte, The Times said.

The newspaper reported that Sarkozy eliminated the human rights post, which had reported to Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.