Putin reshuffles Russian government

MOSCOW, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday reshuffled the Russian government which will include seven deputy prime ministers and two first deputy prime ministers.

Viktor Zubkov and Igor Shuvalov will take the positions of first deputy prime minister, Interfax quoted Putin as saying at a government meeting on Monday.

Sergei Sobyanin was appointed as deputy prime minister, as well as the head of the government office.

The other deputy prime ministers are Alexander Zhukov, Sergei Ivanov and Igor Sechin. Alexei Kudrin retained the position of deputy prime minister as well as finance minister, Interfax said.

Government organs were also changed in the meeting.

The Industry and Energy Industry was split into the Industry Ministry and the Energy Ministry. A new ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth affairs, and a new agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) affairs were established.

Putin handed over the presidential power to his successor Dmitry Medvedev on May 7 and took the post of prime minister two days later.

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