Ukraine assembly sacks ministers linked to president

KIEV, Dec 2 (Reuters) Ukraine's parliament, mounting its toughest challenge yet to President Viktor Yushchenko, sacked two ministers who played a key role in the 2004 ''Orange Revolution'' and promoted his pro-Western policies.

Parliament and the government have been at odds with the president since Viktor Yanukovich, the president's nemesis since the big protests, was named prime minister in August.

Each side has persistently tried to undermine the authority of the other.

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 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.

Tarasyuk and Lutsenko were two of only a handful of pro-presidential ministers who had remained in cabinet after Yanukovich was appointed and their departure will strengthen the government and prime minister in their battle with Yushchenko.

The disputes have been magnified by constitutional amendments approved during the 2004 upheaval handing some presidential powers to the premier and parliament. The president has vowed to challenge the action to remove his allies.

''I firmly believe that such changes do not help create stability,'' Yushchenko told the BBC's Ukrainian-language service in an interview Thursday. He said the constitutional changes weakening his position ''in essence lead to usurpation of power.'' ''ENSURE ORDER'' Yanukovich, undertaking a visit to Washington next week, dismissed any suggestion of improper conduct and said his duty was to ''ensure order by whatever name you wish to call it.

''If that is usurpation, let it be usurpation,'' he said on a visit to eastern Ukraine. ''If it is to the benefit of the country and its people, let it be called that. The main thing to get straight is that no one will do things if we don't.'' The United States adopted a hand-off approach toward the power struggle ahead of Yanukovich's visit, which will include talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday.

Asked about the dismissal of the two ministers, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said: ''This is an internal political matter within the Ukrainian system ... this really is something for the political leaders in Ukraine to work out.'' Parliament failed in an attempt to oust Lutsenko on Thursday. It has also vowed to remove Defense Minister Anatoly Hrytsenko and is pursuing an investigation into his activities.

The chamber later yesterday appointed Vasyl Tsushko, an economist specialized in agriculture, as interior minister.

Under the constitutional changes, the president is no longer empowered to appoint the government unhindered and is limited to recommending appointments to the foreign and defense ministries subject to parliament's approval.

Yushchenko humiliated Yanukovich, friendlier toward Russia, by beating him in a re-run of a rigged election after vast crowds poured into Kiev's Independence Square for three weeks in his support.

But Yanukovich made a comeback when his Regions Party took first place a March parliamentary election.

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

REUTERS SBA BST0645