PUTIN TO BECOME NEW CSZAR?

Russian president Vladimir Putin dissolved his government Wednesday in a major political overhaul just before parliamentary and presidential elections, the Kremlin said.

Analysts suggest that the dissolution will result in a new prime minister, who will be seen as Putin's choice to succeed him after he steps down next spring.

Officials from the Kremlin, reported that Sergei Ivanov, a first deputy prime minister and a leading contender to succeed Putin, could be appointed to replace Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.

Under Russia's constitution, Putin has two weeks to propose a new head of government, which the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, then has a week to vote on.

Fradkov, who will be acting Prime Minister until the vote, said he asked for the dissolution of the government because with elections approaching, Putin needed to have a free hand to make decisions, including those concerning appointments.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Dec. 2, followed some three months later by presidential balloting.

"You might be right that we must all think about how to structure the government so that it better suits the pre-election period and prepares the country for what will happen after the parliamentary and presidential elections," Putin said.