<div><p>Thailand's king has endorsed a cabinet reshuffle, a statement said Saturday, after the country's protest-hit coalition government moved to stem the fallout from a healthcare corruption scandal.</p><p>Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's fragile administration, which has ridden out widespread demonstrations since coming to power in December 2008, has recently suffered two resignations over alleged graft.</p><p>Public Health minister Witthaya Keawparadai and his deputy Manit Nopamornbodi quit earlier this month over claims of negligence linked to plans for a ministry budget worth more than two billion dollars.</p><p>A report by a government committee found prices for medical equipment to be purchased by the ministry -- such as heart monitoring systems and cancer treatment machinery -- had been dramatically inflated.</p><p>King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed a royal warrant reshuffling five ministers, three of them from Abhisit's coalition-leading Democrat Party and two from their key allies in the Bhumjaithai party, the statement said.</p><p>In the major appointments announced late Friday, Democrat member Trairong Suwankhiri was appointed deputy prime minister and Jurin Laksanawisit was switched from education minister to public health minister.</p><p>Former public health minister Wittaya was named as government chief whip, although it is not a ministerial position.</p><p>The five new ministers will be sworn in by the king on Monday at a Bangkok hospital, where he has been since September for medical treatment.</p><p>Abhisit's shaky coalition faces renewed pressure from upcoming protests by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.</p><p>The so-called "Red Shirt" demonstrators said they would rally in Bangkok next month ahead of a court ruling on the deposed politician's frozen 2.2-billion-dollar fortune.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67012269&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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