ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The prime minister of the oil-rich central Eurasian nation of Kazakhstan has resigned, a report says.
A government official Monday announced the resignation of Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov, 52, which was accepted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Novosti reported.
Akhmetov will be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Karim Masimov, the Voice of America reported. There was no word on why the prime minister resigned.
Under Kazakh law, the resignation of a prime minister forces the resignation of the entire government in the former Soviet republic.
Novosti said Nazarbayev is expected to submit a replacement to a joint session of both houses of parliament later in the week.
Akhmetov has served as prime minister since June 2003, Novosti said.
