Putin sacks prime minister and cabinet ahead of vote

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin sacked Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and his Cabinet yesterday, saying he made the move in order to reshuffle the government ahead of next month’s presidential election.

He went on TV to say: “This decision bears no relation to any assessment of the performance of the former composition of the government.

“It was dictated by my desire to once again delineate my position on the issue of what development course the country will take after March 14, 2004.”