Viktor Yushchenko, the president of Ukraine, yesterday claimed command of the country's 32,000 interior ministry troops. But in a dramatic escalation of a major political crisis, a ministry official refused to obey the "illegal" order. Renewed tensions between the president and his arch-rival, Viktor Yanukovich, the prime minister, have been building for weeks and Mr Yushchenko's move to take control over the troops appeared to suggest rising concern over possible clashes. A statement on the presidential website said Mr Yushchenko's order was necessary "to prevent using interior ministry troops in the interest of some political forces that cause a threat for Ukraine's national security".
But Konstantin Stogniy, a ministry spokesman, said the order was illegal and "fulfilling illegal orders is a crime".
The country's crisis intensified on Thursday when Mr Yushchenko sacked prosecutor general Svyatoslav Piskun. The interior ministry, which is led by a Yanukovich ally, responded by sending riot police to Mr Piskun's office. The interior ministry has about 32,000 troops and 220,000 regular policemen under its control; Mr Yushchenko's order calls for his taking control only of the troops.
The dismissal of Mr Piskun, a member of Mr Yanukovich's party, severely aggravated tensions that have been high since Mr Yushchenko's order to dissolve parliament and call early elections last month. "It is again a violation of the constitution and making such a decision is unacceptable. We need to immediately stop legal nihilism," Mr Yanukovich said during a meeting of his government.
The European Union urged Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovich to settle their power struggle through negotiation and not resort to the use of force. "All efforts should now be focused on reaching a peaceful joint settlement quickly," a spokesman for the German presidency of the EU said. "The presidency appeals to all those with political responsibility to distance themselves from action which could result in any further escalation of the dispute."| "Fergawdsakes, Viktor and Viktor, don't make us get out the 40lb bond paper and the shutter pen again! The blister we got from the last demarche has just barely healed!" |
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