The Latvian parliament has ended a seven-week stalemate by voting in a new government, led by the Centrist, Vilis Kristopans.

Mr Kristopans, whose Latvia's Way party has formed a coalition with the New Party and the nationalist Fatherland and Freedom party, commands only a minority of parliamentary votes.

He has said his priority will be to speed up Latvia's integration with the European Union.

His government relies on parliamentary support from the Social Democrats and some analysts say it cannot survive for long.

One of the main issues facing Mr Kristopans is the demand for citizenship from Latvia's large Russian-speaking minority, most of whom have been stateless since the break-up of the Soviet Union.