MOSCOW, MARCH 5, 2004, RIA NOVOSTI - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the appointment of Mikhail Fradkov as Prime Minister.
Earlier today, the State Duma, or parliament's lower house, approved Putin's nominee with 352 votes (in order to get through parliament, a nominee needs to surpass a threshold of 226 votes).
The incoming premier is a successor to Mikhail Kasyanov, dismissed from the post February 29.
