Embattled Thai PM Paetongtarn reshuffles cabinet as crisis rages

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra began a cabinet reshuffle on Monday as a political and judicial crisis sparked by a leaked phone call threatens to sink her government.

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Tensions remained high between the two Southeast Asian countries, with Cambodia suspending all Thai fuel and gas imports and Thailand threatening to cut off internet connectivity and some electricity supplies to its neighbour.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai sought to project unity after the second largest party in the government quit last week, leaving the ruling coalition with only a slim parliamentary majority.

"I'm 100% confident that we will move ahead strongly after the cabinet reshuffle is completed this week," he told reporters. "You will see a new way of working that's different from before."

The 38-year-old daughter of controversial former PM Thaksin Shinawatra began handing out ministerial posts vacated when her main coalition partner quit last week - a move that nearly took her government down.

Paetongtarn, in office for less than a year, is hanging on by a thread, and on top of the party horse-trading she now faces a Constitutional Court case that could see her barred from office.

She faced calls to quit or call an election last week as critics accused her of undermining the country and insulting the army during the leaked call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, which focused on a festering border dispute.