Havana  - Cuban President Raul Castro on Monday undertook a major cabinet reshuffle, complete with the removal of key figures like Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Vice President Carlos Lage.

Castro - who formally took over power from his brother, historic Cuban leader Fidel Castro, a little over a year ago - announced the mergers of several ministries and changes in several portfolios.

According to an official statement, these changes were set to be followed by others, based on the "need to keep studying the current structure of government to gradually reduce its size and increase its efficacy." dpa