A Monsignor, a retired judge and three persons active in the Labour Party or its media are set to be given diplomatic posts.

Mgr Joe Vella Gauci, former archpriest at the Gozo Cathedral and, more recently, a member of the secretariat of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Communities, is to be Malta's representative to Unesco, government sources said.

Gynaecologist George Buttigieg will be assigned to the Holy See and will also continue to be Malta's ambassador to the Order of the Knights of Malta.

Retired Judge Joseph Filletti will be Malta's representative to the Council of Europe while German-speaking Albert Friggieri who has been involved in trade promotion, will head the Maltese embassy in Berlin.

Vincent Camilleri, ambassador to Paris during the term of the Alfred Sant government, returns to the post.

Clifford Borg Marks, who speaks Chinese, is being assigned to the Chinese capital while Dr Carmelo Brincat is heading for Moscow.

Jamie H Cremona, who was the obstetrician to the Saudi Royal Family will return to the Kingdom as ambassador.

One TV broadcaster and travel agent Normal Hamilton will be appointed High Commissioner to London while Marisa Micallef, the former Housing Authority chairwoman who caused a furore when she switched from supporting the PN to Labour, is heading to Washington, as already widely reported.

Ray Azzopardi, head of programmes at One Radio and organiser of PL activities, will be assigned to Brussels.

The Foreign Ministry has not yet made formal announcements.

Mr Hamilton had told the Times of Malta on August 1 that he was looking forward to another new challenge in his career.

“I am very honoured to be given this role and I look forward to continue building on the sterling work which has already been done to attract more businesses to Malta,” he said.