Former Russian President Putin Appointed Prime Minister

Published: May 9, 2008

MOSCOW - Former President Vladimir Putin was appointed Russia's prime minister Thursday, securing a new place in power a day after leaving the Kremlin.

His appointment was the final stroke in a choreographed transition that allows the former KGB officer to leave the Kremlin without completely relinquishing authority.

Forced out of the presidency by constitutional term limits, Putin on Wednesday handed off his title to a longtime protege, Dmitry Medvedev, who in turn nominated his old boss as prime minister.

Ever since anointing his successor, Putin has hovered at Medvedev's side during meetings and public appearances. Both men have insisted they plan to run the country as a cooperative project.

"All the previous years we've been working together, and we'll continue to work together," Medvedev told the lower house of parliament Thursday. "There's no doubt that our tandem, our cooperation, will only grow stronger."

Later Thursday, Russia announced it was booting out two U.S. military attaches who worked at the U.S. Embassy, the State Department said.

The expulsion put a belligerent start to the new regime. But it was not clear who ordered the expulsion or why it was timed on Medvedev's first full day in office. Russian officials had no comment.

The action was the latest in an exchange of diplomatic expulsions in which two Russians and three Americans have been sent home since November.