Kazakhstan's prime minister resigns

The prime minister of Kazakhstan resigned Monday, officials said, in the wake of criticism of his performance by the authoritarian president of the oil-rich Central Asian country. Daniyal Akhmetov, who served as prime minister since 2003, offered his resignation at a Cabinet meeting, the government's press office said. It gave no reason for the move, which will lead to the appointment of a new government. Akhmetov came under President Nursultan Nazarbayev's criticism last year for poor strategic planning, overspending and other mistakes.