Guatemala's Portillo replaces interior minister

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -- Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo, who critics say has failed to reduce violent crime since taking office in January, announced on Sunday he was replacing his interior minister.

Byron Barrientos, an influential deputy from Portillo's Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), will replace former interior minister Guillermo Ruiz, Portillo told reporters at a news conference.

Declining further comment, the president also announced he was replacing the Central American nation's agriculture minister.

Portillo sailed to victory in December on a popular mandate that included combating a rise in violent crimes, such as kidnapping. But he conceded in June that his government had made no advances in security.

A recent newspaper poll showed Portillo's public support plummeting with voters citing his failure to attack crime as a principal reason for their loss of confidence.

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