Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that he would soon appoint a foreign minister after he reaches New Delhi on September 18.

Dr Singh, who is now on a visit to Brazil and Cuba, did not specify when he would appoint the new minister.

He leaves for South Africa by the end of September for a bilateral meet.

He, however, refused to give any hint on who would be India's next foreign minister.

Asked whether a cabinet reshuffle was also on the cards, Dr Singh said, "As of now I am thinking of only have a foreign minister."

The foreign minister's position is lying vacant ever since Natwar Singh resigned from his post in December 2005 over the United Nations oil-for-food scam.