Yushchenko claims command of troops

Source: AP

Yushchenko claims command of troops 2 minutes ago



KIEV, Ukraine - President Viktor Yushchenko on Friday claimed command of Ukraine's Interior Ministry troops as the country's political tensions soared.

A statement on the presidential Web site said his order for the troops to be under his command was necessary "to prevent using Interior Ministry troops in the interest of some political forces that cause a threat for Ukraine's national security."

On Thursday, the Interior Ministry, led by an ally of Yushchenko's arch-rival Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, sent police to surround the office of the prosecutor-general, whom Yushchenko had just fired.

The dismissal severely aggravated tensions that have been high since Yushchenko's April 2 order dissolving parliament and calling early elections. The parliament, where Yanukovych leads the majority coalition, has defied that order.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070525/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_politics

;-)

He did survive an assassination attempt last year. I don't think the Dems would do anything like that to Chimpy. ;)

I hope everything is still calm then.

Source: Associated Press

Ukraine leader, official spar over order

By NATASHA LISOVA, Associated Press Writer
22 minutes ago

KIEV, Ukraine - Ukraine's president said he took command of 32,000
Interior Ministry troops on Friday, and a ministry official rejected the
order — deepening the country's political crisis as police guarded the
office of the fired prosecutor general.

The former Soviet republic edged closer toward potential violence as
lawmakers and officials allied with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych
called President Viktor Yushchenko's order a "putsch," and hundreds
of supporters of each of the rival politicians staged competing rallies
in Kiev.

Yanukovych and Yushchenko, along with other top political leaders,
met late Friday for the first time since the president fired the
prosecutor general a day earlier.

Tensions between the pair have been building for weeks, and the
president's move to take control over the troops, reflecting doubt
on the loyalty of servicemen under the ministry's command,
suggested rising concern over possible clashes.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070525/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_politics_7

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Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Friday, 25 May 2007, 19:14 GMT 20:14 UK

Ukraine leaders spar over troops

Ukraine's president has met his rival, PM Viktor Yanukovych, as a
bitter power struggle between the two men sent the country deeper
into political crisis.

The PM said a bid by President Viktor Yushchenko to take control
of 40,000 interior ministry troops meant the "use of force scenario"
had begun.

The two leaders have been locked in their power struggle for months.

The EU has urged both parties to settle the deepening crisis though
negotiation and not resort to violence.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6691371.stm

Source: Agence France-Presse

Troops head to Kiev as Ukraine crisis talks restart

by Anya Tsukanova
2 hours, 31 minutes ago

KIEV (AFP) - Troops loyal to Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko
tried to enter the capital Kiev Saturday, the interior ministry said,
as the feuding president and prime minister restarted crisis talks.

Negotiations between Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovych on their bitter power struggle began more than two
hours late, following a first round of talks Friday evening that
ended with no sign of progress.

Tensions rose when the interior ministry, which is generally loyal
to Yanukovych, said ministry troops commanded by a Yushchenko
ally were headed toward the capital.

The deputy head of the ministry, Mykhaylo Kornyvenko, told
journalists that 82 vehicles carrying 2,050 soldiers were headed
toward Kiev, but that "practically all of them have been stopped
in different places."

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070526/ts_afp/ukrainepolitics_070526121241