UPDATE 1-Armenia's central bank chief set to be new PM

(Adds analyst, details)

By Hasmik Mkrtchyan

YEREVAN, April 8 (Reuters) - Armenia's central bank chief looked set to become the country's new prime minister after the ruling coalition voiced support for his appointment on Tuesday.

The prime minister's job will be vacant from Wednesday when Serzh Sarksyan, who currently holds the post, becomes president of the ex-Soviet Christian state of 3 million on the edge of the Caucasus -- a major energy route to Europe from Asia.

Sarksyan's Republican Party said it would back 48-year-old Tigran Sarksyan, chairman of the central bank since 1998, for the job. The two men are not related.

"If Tigran Sarksyan is put forward as a candidate for the post of prime minister, I anticipate that our party will support it," party spokesman Spartak Seyranyan said.

Under the Armenian constitution the president appoints the prime minister after consultations with parliament. The chamber does not hold a vote on the appointment.

The Republican party won 65 out of 131 seats in last May's parliamentary election. The two other parties in the ruling coalition also indicated they would support Tigran Sarksyan for the premiership.

Serzh Sarksyan won a presidential election in February which his opponents said he rigged. He ordered a 20-day state of emergency on March 1 when eight protesters died in clashes with police in the capital.