Ukraine Pres. Yanukovych accepts government resignation
Iran Press TV
Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:6PM GMT
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has accepted Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's resignation in a move aimed at defusing the Eastern European country's political crisis.
Azarov had handed in his resignation to the president on Tuesday in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the more-than-two-month-long conflict between protesters and the police.
President Yanukovych issued a decree accepting the government's resignation, but ordered the ministers in Azarov's cabinet to stay on until a new government is formed.
In the decree, first deputy premier, Serhiy Arbuzov, has been tasked with forming a new cabinet as acting prime minister.
However, boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko described the resignation as a face-saving measure and a step toward victory. He said the opposition will continue with its struggle until the government is changed.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's parliament has overwhelmingly voted to abolish a controversial anti-protest law that triggered deadly unrest in the capital, Kiev.
The decision, which 361 out of 363 lawmakers voted for, comes less than two weeks after the legislation was introduced. Earlier in January, they had voted for the introduction of the law.
Under the law, protesters were banned from wearing helmets and blocking public buildings. The measures helped fuel anti-government protests.
This comes as rival rallies are still underway in the capital Kiev.
Ukraine has been gripped by protests for two months and the crisis was aggravated in recent days after protesters and police clashed violently.
Protests began on 21 November when President Yanukovych chose closer ties with Russia and rejected a political and trade agreement with the European Union.
MOL/NN/SS
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
