Russian President Vladimir Putin this week unveiled a new slimmed-down cabinet in which key economic reformers retained their posts, and the number of ministries was almost halved. The cabinet shake-up, including the appointment of a new foreign minister, came just days before Mr Putin's expected re-election. Here is a brief look at key ministers:

The little-known former trade minister and tax police chief was nominated unexpectedly as prime minister by Mr Putin last week. Mr Fradkov, 53, served as Russia's envoy to the EU before being made premier.

Russia's long-serving ambassador to the UN replaces Igor Ivanov as foreign minister. Born in 1950, Mr Lavrov joined the foreign ministry in 1972 and served as deputy foreign minister from 1992 to 1994. He has represented Russia at the United Nations for almost a decade. Fluent English and French speaker. Prime Minister Fradkov described him as a "highly-qualified specialist and a career diplomat".

Appointed as sole deputy prime minister - previously there were four. Respected economist and technocrat with strong reformist credentials. Mr Zhukov, 47, studied economics at Moscow State University and Harvard, and is fluent in English. A former deputy speaker of the State Duma. The new prime minister described him thus: "Well known in the country, he has all the qualities allowing him to get involved in the work and start acting in a measured and efficient manner".

Stays on as defence minister. Mr Ivanov, who is 51 years old, is considered a close confidant of the Russian president and, like Mr Putin, is a former KGB intelligence officer from St Petersburg.

Formally appointed as interior minister - a post in which he has been acting since October 2003. The 48-year-old Nurgaliyev was formerly deputy director of the FSB intelligence agency and head of the Criminal Police Service. In this post he was in charge of interior ministry operations against organised crime and drug trafficking, including those involving international terrorism and extremist groups.

Reform-minded finance minister retains post. Mr Kudrin, 43, is credited with having steered through sweeping tax changes and nursed the state's finances back to health after a 1998 default. Has overseen a steady decline in Russia's external debt and managed to rein in inflation while the economy boomed.

Minister for economic development and trade retains post which he has held since being appointed soon after Mr Putin's election in May 2000. A lawyer by training, Mr Gref, 40, is seen as a reformer. Worked with Mr Putin in the St Petersburg local administration and joined the government as deputy privatisation minister during the economic crisis that erupted in August 1998.

Formerly served as deputy prime minister in charge of the fuel and energy complex, will head the new Industry and Energy Ministry, which will also be responsible for nuclear power. Mr Khristenko, 46, is widely recognised for having made Russia's oil exports more transparent and guaranteeing oil firms equal access to export pipelines. He is also known as a strong supporter of market regulation of the oil industry.

Retains post of justice minister, to which he was appointed in 1999. The 53-year-old law graduate has held posts as an investigator and public prosecutor. Formerly served as a top official in the office of the Procurator-General.

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