New Russian cabinet takes charge

By James Rodgers
BBC News, Moscow

Elvira Nabiulina is one of two women in the cabinet

Russian President Vladimir Putin has named a new cabinet but there are few clear clues as to who might succeed him when he leaves office next year.

The two men most frequently spoken of as the next president - Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev - have both kept their jobs as deputy prime ministers.

The reshuffle had no surprise to rival that which accompanied the appointment of Victor Zubkov as PM two weeks ago.

Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin keeps his job and takes on that of deputy PM.

The cabinet announcement was eagerly awaited for any clue it might give as to President Putin's likely successor.

There was no clear sign.

'High-profile casualty'

Some had seen the naming of Mr Zubkov as prime minister as a setback to Mr Ivanov and Mr Medvedev's chances of eventually landing the top job.

The fact that both men have held on to their posts suggests that they are still in the running, although neither has formally declared his candidature.

The most high-profile casualty is the former economics minister, German Gref.

His departure had been widely anticipated.

His successor, Elvira Nabiulina, is one of two women appointed to the cabinet in a country where men dominate politics.