Kazakhstan's parliament has voted to reappoint Nurlan Balgimbayev as the prime minister of the country.

Mr Balimbayev and his government had resigned on Wednesday, as required by the constitution, when the newly re-elected President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was inaugurated for a second term.

Mr Nazarbayev had already indicated that he wanted Mr Balgimbayev and other top ministers in charge of the economy reappointed as he did not want to make any major at a time when the economy was under strain.