NICOSIA, Cyprus?- Cyprus' embattled president has reshuffled his cabinet in an attempt to combat a political and economic crisis spawned by a deadly blast that wrecked the island's main power station and sapped confidence in the government.

President Dimitris Christofias on Friday appointed longtime ally and former minister Kikis Kazamias to the key finance ministry post. Kazamias has his work cut out for him to shore up public finances amid growing speculation that the EU member country may be forced to seek a bailout.

Career diplomat Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis moves over from the communications ministry to foreign affairs. She takes over from Markos Kyprianou who quit after a cache of seized Iranian munitions detonated at a naval base last month, killing 13 people.