MOSCOW. Dec 19 (Interfax) - It is too early to discuss the structure of a Russian government to be formed when the new president takes office, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said.

"The government structure is not being discussed now, and I think it would be wrong to discuss it now," Ivanov said in the Vesti 24 television news program on Tuesday evening.

"If it were being discussed now - and it is impossible to discuss it absolutely behind-the-scenes, because we live in the real world - there would have been information leak," he said.

"If so, then the question arises as to how the current government would have been acting in these circumstances. After all, the current government has been tasked with a single but a very clear-cut mission - to work like a well-known [Swiss] watch, and the government has to carry out this mission. As to what is going to occur after May - this is another question, and I don't see much sense in discussing and resolving it now," he said.

Ivanov also said he intended to continue working in the government at least until May 2008.

"I will calmly continue performing my duties set by the president as a member of the current government," Ivanov said.

"I believe that I am responsible for quite a serious set of issues. This is not only industry but also transport, communications, space, the Military-Industrial Commission and so on. There's enough work for me," he said.

A new president to be elected in March 2008, who is to take office in May 2008, will put together a new government, Ivanov said.

"I think everybody perfectly knows the future head of the government. All members of the current government will automatically step down in line with the constitution. Let's wait and see what happens after May," Ivanov said.