Ukraine's leadership struggle intensifies
KIEV, Ukraine - President Viktor Yushchenko summoned thousands of troops to Ukraine's capital yesterday, but forces loyal to the nation's prime minister stopped them outside Kiev, escalating the two leaders' power struggle.
KIEV, Ukraine - President Viktor Yushchenko summoned thousands of troops to Ukraine's capital yesterday, but forces loyal to the nation's prime minister stopped them outside Kiev, escalating the two leaders' power struggle.
Tensions have grown since Yushchenko ordered parliament disbanded in April, claiming Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and his supporters were trying to usurp presidential power. Last week, the president moved to fire the nation's chief prosecutor and take control of Interior Ministry troops, adding to the acrimony.
The ministry's chief is a Yanukovych loyalist, but the 32,000 troops are under the command of a Yuschenko ally. Ivan Plyushch, the head of the national security council, said the president had ordered the troops to Kiev to forestall violence, though some feared it would have the opposite effect.
"Moving the interior troops into the city is necessary to guarantee a calm life for the city, to prevent provocations," Plyushch was quoted on the presidential Web site.
Nikolai Mishakin, deputy commander of the interior troops, said on Ukrainian television that nearly 3,500 officers had been prevented from entering Kiev by forces loyal to Yanukovych. Mishakin promised his troops would not resort to violence since none of them had firearms.
AP Television News showed footage of several convoys of troops stopped on their way to Kiev from central and western provinces. Dozens of officers got out of the buses and waited patiently in a forest by a highway - some lying on grass, others drinking water, smoking, chatting and appearing relaxed.
The Western-leaning Yushchenko came to office in 2005 after the Orange Revolution protests. His agenda, however, has been complicated by fighting among his supporters and the ongoing disputes with Russia-leaning Yanukovych.
As parties loyal to both sides warned yesterday of possible violence, Yanukovych and Yushchenko met again to try to defuse the crisis. Earlier meetings ended without visible progress.
Several hundred supporters of both leaders held competing rallies in front of the presidential office as the leaders met. A line of police separated the two groups.
Yushchenko dissolved parliament April 2, but Yanukovych's supporters in parliament have defied the order, calling it unconstitutional.
