Toronto ? Canada’s prime minister replaced his embattled defense minister Tuesday in a major Cabinet overhaul apparently aimed at re-energizing his minority government.

Defense chief Gordon O’Connor, the focus of opposition protest over his handling of Canada’s role in Afghanistan, was replaced by Peter MacKay, who had been foreign minister.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper named Maxime Bernier, who had been industry minister, to MacKay’s old position.

In all, Harper made changes to a 10 ministerial positions in the shakeup. But the replacement of O’Connor, who will now lead the revenue ministry, was a major element. Opposition parties charged that O’Connor made conflicting statements about what the military knew about the torture of Taliban detainees after they were handed over to Afghan authorities.