Mikhail Zadornov, who served as finance minister in three previous governments, was named to the post after a week of political infighting and amid growing questions about Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin's authority over the Cabinet.

Zadornov had resigned last Friday, three days after Yeltsin appointed him first deputy prime minister, dealing a serious blow to efforts to kick start the Russian economy.

Zadornov had asked Yeltsin to let him keep the finance portfolio. But the Russian president rejected his request, forcing him to tender his resignation and signalling a fierce power struggle.

Stepashin had inducted Zadornov in the Cabinet to checkmate the other, apparently more powerful first deputy premier Nikolai Aksyonenko, believed to be linked to the Yeltsin's family and controversial tycoon Boris Berezovsky.

Inhis new capacity as first deputy PM, Aksyonenko has quickly moved to take over the ``real sector'' of the economy, including industry, government transport and utility monopolies.

Viktor Khristenko -- deputy finance minister in the Primakov government -- was named first deputy prime minister in charge of finance.

Under the presidential decrees, Andrei Shapovalyants has retained his job as economic minister.

Ilya Kalebanov has been appointed as deputy minister, looking after Russia's lucrative Military-Industrial Complex (MIC).