Yushchenko Dismisses Ukraine Cabinet

The Ukrainian president, Viktor Yushchenko, today dismissed his cabinet amid allegations of corruption.

Mr Yushchenko said members of the fragile coalition formed after the Orange Revolution last year had turned on one another.

The president made the abrupt move after Petro Poroshenko, the powerful head of the military and law enforcement services, tendered his resignation amid growing claims of scandal.

Mr Yushchenko, a pro-western liberal sworn in as president in January after huge street protests, called the allegations "groundless but very strong".

"I knew that there were definite contradictions between those people, but I hoped that there would not be enough time for intrigues," he said. "I want people to feel that the government works in harmony, but they lost the team spirit and faith."

He later said he hoped the dismissed prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, and Mr Poroshenko would remain part of his team, but added that they must agree to work together.

He did not specify whether this meant he would consider welcoming them back into the government at some point.

Mr Yushchenko appointed Yuriy Yekhanurov, a former economics minister who now heads a parliamentary committee on industrial issues, as the acting prime minister.

The government's dismissal was triggered by Mr Poroshenko's decision to stand down - the third high-level resignation in a week following those of the chief of staff, Oleksandr Zinchenko, on Saturday, and the deputy prime minister, Mykola Tomenko, today.

"I have realised that some people steal and others resign," Mr Tomenko said. "I don't want to bear common responsibility for people who have created a corrupt system."

Oleksandr Lytvynenko, a political analyst with the Razumkov think tank, said the government's dismissal would hurt Mr Yushchenko.

"Doubts had already emerged about his ability to make decisions, which are beginning to damage his image not only in Ukraine but also abroad," he said.

Mr Poroshenko, a confectionary tycoon, helped fund and publicise Mr Yushchenko's rise to power through his Channel 5 television station.

Ms Tymoshenko became known as a hero of the Orange Revolution protests against the tainted regime of the former president, Leonid Kuchma.

She regularly addressed the nation from Independence Square, and her popularity continues to rival that of Mr Yushchenko.