Armenia names defence minister as new PM

YEREVAN - Armenia's ruling Republican party on Monday named Defence Minister and presidential favourite Serge Sarkisian as the country's new prime minister.
Sarkisian is a close ally of President Robert Kocharian, who is expected to approve the nomination on Wednesday, parliamentary speaker Tigran Torosian told AFP.
Sarkisian, 52, will succeed Andranik Margarian, who died of a heart attack on March 25 after seven years as prime minister.
The defence minister is considered the favourite to replace Kocharian when the president's second term expires next year.
Like Kocharian, Sarkisian is from the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and fought in the 1988-1994 war in which Armenia seized the region from Azerbaijan.
He also chairs the Republican party's ruling council and is expected to play a key role in the party's campaign for May 12 parliamentary elections.

04/02/2007 17:19 GMT