Myanmar's military rulers have begun a massive shake-up with eight deputy ministers and a Supreme Court judge already relieved of their posts. This second revamp in the last few months is part of a major overhaul of the army and government, diplomatic sources in Rangoon said.

Further cabinet changes are in the pipeline and may include top military ruler General Than Shwe standing down as the junta leader. It is the start of a fresh attempt to civilianise Myanmar’s military rule, ahead of political changes under a new constitution.

In the cabinet reshuffle announced in May, several ranking army officer-ministers were either asked to resign or were allowed to retire. Replacements are yet to be announced but sources in Rangoon say they are likely to be drawn from am ong the new graduates of the National Defence College. ‘‘Some of the new ministers are expected to be loyal to the second top general, Maung Aye,’’said independent analyst Win Min in Chiang Mai.

Now that the shifting of the war office and the government administration to the new capital Pyinmana has been completed, the top general is turning his attention to the country’s political future while further reducing the influence of his deputy, Maung Aye.

The National Convention, which is drafting a new constitution, is scheduled to resume its deliberations later this year. Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Nyan Win told his south-east Asian counterparts at their retreat in Bali in April that the constitution would take another two years to complete. Drafting a new constitution is the first step in the government’s democracy roadmap. According to the regime’s plans, this will then be put to a referendum and fresh elections held some time after that.