Brazil's Defence Minister Nelson Jobim listens to a question during his testimony at a congressional inquiry in Brasilia in this Sept 17, 2008 file photo. Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff will ask her veteran defense minister Jobim for his resignation after he made disparaging comments about fellow officials, a source said on August 4, 2011, adding to a recent sense of dysfunction within her 7-month-old government. [Photo/Agencies]

BRASILIA - Brazil's defense minister has resigned after a newspaper report saying he criticized two Cabinet colleagues. He is the third Cabinet minister to quit since President Dilma Rousseff took office Jan 1.

The government says Nelson Jobim is being replaced as defense minister by former Foreign Minister Celso Amorim.

The newspaper story says Jobim called the institutional relations minister "weak" and said the Cabinet chief doesn't know Brazil's capital. Jobim denies saying that.

The previous Cabinet chief stepped down earlier this year amid questions about how he acquired a fortune while serving as a legislator. The transportation minister resigned after allegations of corruption in his agency.