Ukraine Pm Cancels Visit to Russia

The prime minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, cancelled her first official trip to Moscow yesterday after Russian prosecutors said she was "still on the wanted list" in connection with bribery charges.

The Russian prosecutor general, Vladimir Ustinov, said a warrant for Ms Tymoshenko's arrest was valid and that "criminal proceedings" were still active against her for allegedly bribing military officials in the 90s when she was the head of an energy company.

Ms Tymoshenko, an ally of President Viktor Yushchenko and fellow leader of last year's Orange revolution, has delayed the trip indefinitely, reviving a diplomatic spat that erupted when Moscow backed her predecessor, Viktor Yanukovich, in last year's election crisis.

Mr Ustinov said Russia would respect Ms Tymoshenko's diplomatic immunity. Mr Ustinov has led President Vladimir Putin's onslaught on the oil company Yukos, and yesterday his term in office was extended.

Kiev was quick to condemn Mr Ustinov's comments. The economic minister, Serhiy Teryokhin, told reporters: "It was going to be the first visit - a milestone event. Something is always wrong with prosecutor generals in Russia ... it is a diplomatic scandal, an international scandal."

The trip was planned to discuss trade cooperation and how much Russia charges Ukraine for oil.

Interpol's office in Ukraine said Ms Tymoshenko had been removed from its wanted list.