PRAGUE (AFP) -- Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said in a statement Monday he would replace four ministers in his center-right three-party coalition cabinet as of January 23.

""The prime minister will introduce new ministers replacing them in the next few days,"" read the statement.
Regional development minister and deputy PM Jiri Cunek announced he would leave the cabinet earlier on Monday, spearheading the widely-expected reshuffle less than two weeks after the Czech Republic assumed the EU presidency.
The other dismissed ministers are health minister Tomas Julinek and transport minister Ales Rebicek, both from Topolanek's Civic Democratic Party, and Green minister for human rights and minorities Dzamila Stehlikova.
Topolanek, whose cabinet lacks a majority in parliament and depends on support from independent MPs to stay in power, has been putting off his decision while handling impending EU presidency issues including the gas crisis.
The long-awaited changes are expected above all to boost public trust in the cabinet after the coalition parties were crushed in senatorial and regional elections last year.