Havana, July 14 (RHC)-- The Cuban government announced late Wednesday changes of leadership in two ministries.  An official communique said the Council of State had agreed to the release of  Marino Murillo Jorge from his post of Minister of Economy and Planning, appointing in his place Vice President of Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz.

Minister of Higher Education Rodolfo Alarcon Ortiz was also replaced, and his deputy, José Saborido Loidi, was appointed.

The Cuban government statement said that in the case of the Economy minister, the change was due to the need for Minister Marino Murillo, who is a government vice president and heads a permanent commission overseeing implementation of the updating of Cuba's economic and social model, to fully focus on that latter responsibility.

The communique spoke highly of the performance of both ministers being reshuffled: Marino Murillo and Rodolfo Alarcón.