Yushchenko fires government
Thu Sep 8, 2005 1:30 PM BST
Ukrainian Gov't Scandal Grows
By Olena Horodetska
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko sacked his government on Thursday as the team which led the "Orange Revolution" less than a year ago broke apart amid infighting and accusations of mass graft.
Yushchenko, who has pledged to stamp out the corruption widespread under his long-serving predecessor Leonid Kuchma, told a news conference he would ask regional governor Yury Yekhanurov, 57, to form a new team.
But he sought not to alienate completely the charismatic Yulia Tymoshenko, a key figure in the mass protests late last year that propelled him to power and who until Thursday had been prime minister since his election in January.
"These people remain my friends. It is very difficult but today I must to remove this Gordian knot," Yushchenko said, accusing his outgoing government of lacking team spirit.
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