CONGO’S President Denis Sassou Nguesso reshuffled his government on Tuesday and named a defence minister as part of his battle against rival militiamen of the previous government. The main change in the reshuffle, officially announced late on Tuesday, is the naming of one of Sassou Nguesso’s aides, Lekounzou Iti Osetoumba, to run defence affairs with the rank of minister in the president’s office. General Sassou Nguesso had previously taken direct responsibility for defence. By appointing a defence minister, Sassou Nguesso appears to have chosen the military option to resolve the conflict with the so-called Ninja militias who back Brazzaville Mayor Bernard Kolelas, observers said.