Carlos Ferrero was sworn in on Monday as Peru's prime minister to replace Beatriz Merino following her resignation in the wake of a week-long, rumor-driven scandal. 

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Monday took the oath for his new and fourth cabinet in an attempt to stabilize his government.

Merino was accused of nepotism by seeking government jobs for her friends. Her lifestyle also came under attack by former prime minister, Jorge Fernandez Maldonado Solari.

After returning from her United States trip, Merino told a press conference that over the past two months she had been the target of political attacks. She had been one of the most popular members of the government, and had helped Toledo's popularity rise from 11 percent to 18 percent.

Toledo, who demanded the resignation of Peru's first woman prime minister and the whole cabinet last Friday, named the new cabinet headed by Ferrero, former head of Congress, with four new ministers and 10 unchanged.

The four new members are the ministers of agriculture, defense, foreign affairs and the promotion of women and social development.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)