Ankara  - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reshuffled his cabinet on Friday in reaction to falling popularity of the government led by his Islamic conservative AKP party.

Erdogan changed seven ministries Friday, giving his former chief advisor Ahmet Avutoglu the foreign ministry portfolio, while former foreign minister Ali Babacan was moved to the economy ministry. A new finance minister was also named.

Though still the strongest political force in Turkey, the AKP has for the first time lost considerable ground in the latest local elections. (dpa)