Medvedev signs decree appointing Putin as PM

Moscow, May 8 (UNI) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today signed a decree appointing former president Vladimir Putin as Prime Minister.

''Under Clause A Article 83 of the Russian Constitution to appoint Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin as Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. The present decree enters into force from the day of its signing,'' the presidential press service quoted the decree as saying.

Under the constitution, after the signing of the presidential decree, Mr Putin should submit to Mr Medvedev the composition of the new government and candidates for the posts of Deputy Prime Ministers and Federal Ministers.

Earlier today, the State Duma, the lower house of Parliament, overwhelmingly approved Mr Putin's nomination as Prime Minister.

With the presidential decree, Mr Putin has become Russia's Prime Minister for the second time. In August 1999, first President Boris Yeltsin appointed him as Prime Minister.

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