Ukraine asbly sacks ministers linked to president

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

KIEV, Dec 1: Ukraine's parliament today voted to dismiss the foreign and interior ministers, allies of pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko.

Deputies approved by 247 votes a resolution sacking Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, the chief architect of the president's policy of moving Ukraine closer to the West and eventually seeking European Union and NATO membership.

A motion to sack Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko, a leading figure in the 2004 ''Orange Revolution'' that helped sweep Yushchenko to power, won 248 votes.

Both tallies were well clear of the 226 required for passage in the 450-seat chamber. Both parliament and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, Yushchenko's nemesis from the days of the huge 2004 protests, has been at odds for months with the president.

Yushchenko has denounced the action to remove his allies in the cabinet as destabilising for Ukraine and vowed to challenge them.

His allies in the chamber branded the vote a violation of Ukraine's newly amended constitution.

The votes followed a failed attempt to oust Lutsenko on Thursday.

Parliament has also vowed to remove Defence Minister Anatoly Hrytsenko and is pursuing an investigation into his activities.

The disputes pitting the president against his prime minister have been magnified by constitutional amendments handing some presidential powers to the premier and parliament.

The president now recommends appointments to the three key ministries, subject to parliament's approval.

Yushchenko beat Yanukovich in a presidential election in the aftermath of the revolution. But Yanukovich made a comeback when his Regions Party came first in a March parliamentary election in March.

Yushchenko appointed him prime minister in August after his now divided ''orange'' allies failed to form a government.

REUTERS

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