Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/13/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-321126

TITLE=UKRAINE / CAMPAIGN (L)

BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Ukraine Parliament to Probe Yushchenko's Poisoning

INTRO: Ukraine's parliament reopened an investigation into allegations that opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned during the presidential campaign, following the release of a medical report from Vienna that he had ingested the highly toxic dioxin. Meanwhile, a top European official is in Ukraine to discuss plans for the December 26th presidential run-offs. Bill Gasperini has more from Moscow.

TEXT: The opening of the probe by Ukraine's legislators follows a similar move by law enforcement officials during the weekend.

The parliamentary investigation, which is to be led by Volodymyr Sivkovych, will look into Mr. Yushchenko's mysterious illness that has left his face blotchy and discolored.

On Saturday doctors at a Vienna private clinic that treated Mr. Yushchenko said the pro-Western presidential candidate had been poisoned.

Mr. Yushchenko again charged that the government tried to kill him during the presidential election campaign last September, a charge government officials deny.

The Austrian medical report confirmed Mr. Yushchenko was poisoned by dioxin, a toxic chemical that can be lethal, but apparently caused no permanent damage to his internal organs.

Meanwhile, the Council of Europe's Secretary General, Terry Davis, has come to Kiev to meet with top Ukrainian officials to discuss the new run-offs. The Council of Europe, an institution, which acts as the guardian of human rights and political freedoms in Europe, has sent its representatives Ukraine to help assure the re-running of the presidential ballot is free and fair. (SIGNED)

NEB/BG/MAR/RAE