Yushchenko Demands Parliament Annul Vote To Dismiss Government

Yuriy Yekhanurov, (caretaker) prime minister of Ukraine (file photo) (AFP) 12 January 2006 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has demanded that parliament annul its vote to dismiss the government.

Yushchenko told an emergency cabinet meeting on 11 January that he had signed an appeal to lawmakers demanding they cancel what he describes as an "unconstitutional" decision to sack the government.

The Ukrainian parliament voted on 10 January to dismiss the government of Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov over a gas deal struck with Russia in early January that critics argue harms Ukraine's national interests.

The deal ended a dispute over gas prices that had seen Russia cut off supplies to Ukraine.

Following the 10 January vote, parliament asked Yekhanurov's government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until parliamentary elections are held in March.

(Interfax-Ukraine, AFP, AP, Reuters)