ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopia's leader has fired a government minister whose wife faces terrorism charges.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Thursday fired the country's civil minister, Junedin Sado, whose wife is one of 29 people facing terrorism charges related to protests by Muslims who accuse of the government of meddling in their religious affairs.

Sado published a letter in the country's independent newspapers in which he defended his wife and criticized the federal prosecutor's charges.

Also in Thursday's Cabinet reshuffle, Hailemariam promoted two ministers to double as deputy prime ministers, giving the country three deputy prime ministers for the first time, a sign the ruling party is favoring collective leadership after the August death of its longtime leader Meles Zenawi.

Tedros Adhanom was appointed as the country's new foreign affairs minister.