Yushchenko move causes alarm

UKRAINE:Ukraine's feuding president and prime minister accused each other of dragging the country towards violence yesterday, as the head of state's decision to take direct control of tens of thousands of troops caused alarm in Brussels, Washington and Moscow.

President Viktor Yushchenko took command of the powerful interior ministry forces just hours after riot police seized the prosecutor general's office to prevent the new incumbent from starting work. The riot police are controlled by an interior minister who is loyal to premier Viktor Yanukovich, who is also closely allied to the former prosecutor general who was sacked by the president this week.

Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovich have been at loggerheads since the so-called Orange Revolution of 2004, and they are now in dispute over the president's demand for snap elections to a parliament the premier controls.

Both men's claims to be close to resolving the row have come to nothing, and neither tried to play down yesterday's escalation of a crisis that has paralysed Ukrainian politics.

"The order was signed to prevent possible threats to the nation's interests and ensure that the interior troops . . . are not used to benefit political forces," said Mr Yushchenko, who strongly advocates European Union and Nato membership for Ukraine's 46 million people.

Asked about prospects for a negotiated settlement, the president said: "I would say that I no longer have any optimism that results can be achieved, considering the opposition demonstrated by the two sides."

The prime minister, who is much closer to Moscow than his rival, denounced Mr Yushchenko's move to take control of the ministry's 32,000 troops. "Taking such decisions without consulting the government is unacceptable. I think this seriously aggravates the situation," Mr Yanukovich said.

"What does all this mean? This means that the "use-of-force scenario' that we have been discussing constantly has begun."

Yesterday evening riot police loyal to Mr Yanukovich were still in control of the prosecutor general's building, while rival demonstrators taunted each other.

"All efforts should now be focused on reaching a peaceful joint settlement quickly," said Germany, which holds the presidency of the EU. In Washington, national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe urged "all parties to resolve these issues without violence", while Russian prime minister Mikhail Fradkov said Moscow was concerned about "the escalation of tension in [ Ukrainian] society".