MOSCOW - RUSSIA'S parliament will vote on whether to confirm Vladimir Putin as prime minister on May 8, the day after he steps down as president, the speaker of parliament said on Monday.

Mr Putin, who is stepping down in line with a constitutional term limit, has said he will serve as prime minister once his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, is sworn in as president on May 7.

'We are awaiting May 7, the inauguration, and we are awaiting May 8, when we will confirm the candidate for prime minister,' Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the State Duma lower house of parliament, told a news conference. -- REUTERS