Moscow - Russia's leading pro-Kremlin party gave surprise backing yesterday to a no-confidence vote in the government appointed by President Putin. But it said its aim was to force early elections and win more seats in the State Duma (lower house) for the Kremlin.
The manoeuvre by Unity, seemingly going against Mr Putin's own government, followed months of speculation over Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov's cabinet, with many local media predicting Mr Putin would carry out a reshuffle this month.
The Communist Party, the largest faction in the Duma despite losing ground in the last election in 1999, had already called for a no-confidence vote, accusing the government of pushing the country to "mass famine".