Putin reshuffle to "demilitarise" cabinet

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has announced the most sweeping changes to his government since he was elected a year ago.

Mr Putin has replaced his defence minister, Marshall Igor Sergeyev, with the first civilian to hold the job.

Explaining the appointment of the former security council secretary, Sergei Ivanov, Mr Putin said the changes would help demilitarise Russia's public life.

And in another break with tradition, he appointed Lyubov Kudelina as Mr Ivanov's deputy, making her the first woman to hold such a post.

The BBC Correspondent in Moscow says although changes had been expected, the scale of Mr Putin's reshuffle has taken many by surprise. Our correspondent says the linking of the reshuffle to the changing situation in the north Caucasus suggests Mr Putin may shift his policy towards Chechnya.

Mr Putin has chosen Boris Gryzlov -- a Putin loyalist -- to head the interior ministry, which is leading the military campaign in the breakaway republic.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service