Yushchenko fires government

[Judi Lynn]

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.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-09-08T123007Z_01_SCH833556_RTRUKOC_0_UK-UKRAINE.xml

[elehhhhna]

1. Dang. I was hoping he fired OURS.

[Kagemusha]

2. Based on what I've heard "accusations" is a weak term here.

Not that I pretend to be an expert. But frankly, there's not a lot of politicians in a country like Ukraine I'd expect to be honest joes or janes and even more importantly to stay that way and defy temptation over time.

[Just Me]

3. I wish we, "the people" had the power to fire our government.

The BushCO/neoCON regime does not play well with others.