PUTIN DISMISSES THE CABINET (update)
MOSCOW, February 24th, 2004 (RIA Novosti correspondent) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the government.
"In line with Article 117 of the Russian Constitution, I have decided to dismiss the government," the Russian president said in a televised statement.
"This decision is in no way connected with assessing the results of the government's work that I believe to be satisfactory," noted the president.
"It was prompted by the willingness to signal my position and to show what the country's policy will be like after March 14th, 2004," said Putin.
