VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (AP) _ LITHUANIA’S PARLIAMENT ONTUESDAY APPROVED SOCIAL DEMOCRAT GEDIMINAS KIRKILAS AS THE BALTIC COUNTRY’S NEW PRIME MINISTER. KIRKILAS, 54, WAS DEFENSE MINISTER IN THE SCANDAL-RIDDEN COALITION GOVERNMENT THAT COLLAPSED LAST MONTH. LAWMAKERS APPROVED HIS APPOINTMENT BY 85 VOTES TO 13 IN THE 141-SEAT ASSEMBLY. FIVE LAWMAKERS ABSTAINED AND 38 WERE ABSENT. KIRKILAS, WHO NEEDED THE APPROVAL OF A MAJORITY OFLAWMAKERS PRESENT DURING THE VOTE, NOW HAS 15 DAYS TOCOBBLE TOGETHER A CABINET THAT MUST ALSO BE ENDORSED BY PARLIAMENT. IT WOULD THE SMALL COUNTRY’S 14TH GOVERNMENT SINCE GAINING INDEPENDENCE AMID THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION IN 1991, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. --SPA 04/07/2006 13:26 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/373231