Key ministers keep Russia posts in Putin cabinet: reports

Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov all remained in their posts, Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies reported following a meeting between Putin and new President Dmitry Medvedev.Viktor Zubkov, who had been prime minister before Putin switched to the job from the presidency, becomes first deputy premier, as does one of Putin's main policy advisors Igor Shuvalov.

Two powerful figures from Putin's former Kremlin administration were brought from their previous backroom jobs into the cabinet.

Igor Sechin, who had served as deputy head of Kremlin administration and is also head of the oil giant Rosneft, is to become a deputy prime minister. Sechin was widely seen as a hardliner in Putin's entourage.

Sergei Sobyanin, who was head of Kremlin administration, becomes a deputy premier and government chief of staff, Interfax reported.

The shake-up was announced after Putin and Medvedev held their first working meeting. Footage on national television showed the two seated across a table.