MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cabinet reshuffle and Iraq crisis in Chile.

The cabinet reshuffle Chilean president Ricardo Lagos anticipated for March is imminent, according to Government House sources in Santiago. Mr. Lagos is expected to name at least six new ministers and will be making the announcement in the middle of the Iraq crisis that should help shadow the original reason for the changes.

of the Iraq crisis that should help shadow the original reason for the changes. The cabinet reshuffle is an attempt to lift the standing of the Lagos administration that during the last twelve months has been under heavy public opinion flak following the discovery of a net work of corruption for political parties funding, involving the ruling coalition. Several members of Congress have been stripped of their immunity, threatening the government's legislative majority, and former ministers have been jailed.

However government sources indicated President Lagos will be first meeting with all political parties' leaders to talk about the Iraq crisis since Chile currently is one of the ten non permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and stands in the middle of the US-UK-Spain vs France-Germany-Russia dispute. Any Security Council resolution needs nine votes.

Although Mr. Lagos rejected the idea that Chile was under pressure from world powers on the issue, during the last seven days the Chilean president had long phone conversations with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, President George Bush, and Spanish Primer Minister José Aznar.

"It's a disrespect towards small countries to consider that phone calls from the heads of government of the world's powers have the purpose of pushing Chile to support United Status in the Iraq conflict", indicated Mr. Lagos.

"Nobody wants war, the only purpose is to advance towards a peaceful solution, and Chile's stance is very clear and that is of a peaceful understanding. We're a small country but everybody respects us", said Mr. Lagos.

As to the phone call from President Bush, Mr. Lagos said its was "extensive and cordial", with the US leader arguing "that time was running out". Mr. Lagos stated that Chile will support all United Nations resolutions, and expected that any decision must have the greatest possible support.

The Chilean president also revealed he is in permanent contact with Mexican president Vicente Fox, the other Latinamerican country that is a non permanent member of the Security Council.