Medvedev nominates Putin as Russian PM

Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday nominated his predecessor Vladimir Putin as his prime minister and sought parliamentary approval for the move.

In accordance with the Russian constitution, Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov on Wednesday tendered the resignation of his Cabinet after Medvedev was sworn in at a colourful ceremony.

"Medvedev has put forward Putin's candidacy for prime minister to parliament," a Kremlin spokesman said.

The State Duma, or lower house of parliament, in which the ruling United Russia party has an absolute majority, is to hold its extra-ordinary session tomorrow at noon to confirm Putin's appointment as the 10th post-Soviet prime minister of the Russian Federation.

Putin's appointment as the new prime minister will for the first time in the post-Communist Russia set a precedent, when the leader of the party with a parliamentary majority would head the government.

After relinquishing his Kremlin office, Putin assumed the post of the Chairman of United Russia, created specially for him on April 15 at the ruling party's 9th congress.

Except for the Communist Party, all the parliamentary parties have voiced their support for Putin's nomination as the prime minister.