Russian businessman appointed S.Ossetian premier

The rebel region of South Ossetia on Wednesday appointed a Russian businessman as prime minister, hoping to kick-start reconstruction of the enclave after last year's war between Georgia and Russia. South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity proposed Vadim Brovtsev, the head of a firm producing construction materials in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk, a day after firing the previous prime minister, Aslanbek Bulantsev.

Lawmakers confirmed the appointment with 24 votes for and three against, the rebels said in a brief statement on their website. (Reuters)