PHNOM PENH, March 16, (FN): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has proposed a mid-term Cabinet reshuffle, involving the removal of the foreign minister, government sources close to the leader said Wednesday.

The sources said Hun Sen submitted his proposal to the National Assembly at lunch time on Wednesday, seeking to reshuffle some of his ministers including Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, 80, who has been in the position since 1990s.

Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, told Kyodo News that he believed the plan "might be true" based on a statement the premier made to the public on Feb. 25, saying that he was considering a reshuffle within the year.

"If it is to happen, it will be historic for Cambodia that such a big mid-term Cabinet reshuffle is made," he added.

However, neither the government sources nor Phay Siphan could reveal how many ministers will be replaced or who will be the next foreign minister.

Hun Sen said in his February statement that some of his 27 ministers were inactive and passive in their work, singling out Public Works and Transport Minister Tram Iv Toek, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Ouk Rabun.

He added at the time that he could not wait for change, and it was the right time to reform his government.

Many political observers, including senior members of the prime minister's ruling Cambodian People's Party, have acknowledged that "reform is life or death" for the survival of the CPP in the next general election in 2018.

Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 31 years, is expected to face a tough election in 2018 if serious reform fails to materialize by then.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party has been criticizing and blaming Hun Sen's CPP for corruption, deforestation and land grabbing, among other social problems.

==FRESH NEWS