Source:
Associated PressUkraine leader, official spar over orderBy 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
Source:
BBC NewsLast Updated: Friday, 25 May 2007, 19:14 GMT 20:14 UK
Ukraine leaders spar over troopsUkraine'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