South Ossetia names new prime minister

MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The South Ossetian Parliament Wednesday confirmed former construction company president Vadim Brovtsev as the country's prime minister.

The former Georgian republic's Communications Ministry said Brovtsev, head of a construction company based in Chelyabinsk, was approved by a 24-3 vote, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity nominated Brovtsev, the only candidate on the ballot, the ministry said.

The ministry also reported that Kokoity Tuesday dissolved the government as part of relieving former Prime Minister Aslanbek Bulatsev of his duties, the Russian news agency reported. The South Ossetian ministry gave poor health as the reason for Bulatsev's dismissal.

Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of last August's five-day war between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia.