Alexei Kudrin resigns

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on the resignation

of Alexei Kudrin as a Vice Premier and Finance Minister, said the

spokeswoman of the President, Natalya Timakova.

President Dmitry Medvedev had previously suggested that the Vice

Premier and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin should resign if he does

not agree with the president, RIA Novosti reported.  On Sunday, Kudrin

said that he does not see himself in the government of Medvedev

because of disagreements on some issues, primarily on military

spending. Kudrin said that before making a decision on the resignation

he would consult with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.