Yushchenko accuses Ukrainian parliament of destabilisation

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko today accused his nation’s parliament of destabilising the political situation there .

The parliament called to dismiss the government after it acceded to pay nearly double the price for gas supplies from Russia.

Yushchenko, speaking in the Kazakh capital, Astana, called yesterday’s parliamentary vote to oust the Cabinet “unclear, illogical and wrong,” and said it was a wrong step with just 80 days to go until legislative elections

“The decision was made by a parliament that was elected four years ago by the old regime and is living its last weeks,” Yushchenko said.

“Not always have its decisions been constructive.... The decision only demonstrates one thing: destabilisation of the situation.”

The vote came nearly a week after Russia and Ukraine ended their bruising fight over natural gas prices.