Ukrainian president Kuchma fires prime minister's government

KIEV, Ukraine -- President Leonid Kuchma on Saturday fired the government of Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh, a presidential spokeswoman said, a fresh chapter in the political turmoil that has plagued the former Soviet republic in its decade of independence.

The cabinet of ministers remains in office until the parliament approves the dismissal order, said spokeswoman Yevgenya Zhoravlova, and a date for that vote has not been set.

Kuchma's decision to oust the government comes one week after he called for Kinakh's resignation in a speech.

Since Kinakh came to power in April 2001, reforms have sputtered and analysts have reduced forecasts for economic growth.

The opposition accuses Kuchma of corruption, abuse of office, election tampering, and involvement in the killing of an investigative journalist. Kuchma denies the accusations.

Kuchma's decision was announced as the Ukrainian president was flying to Moscow where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He did not make any immediate comment upon arriving in the Russian capital.

Earlier Saturday, the National Security and Defense Council decided that Kuchma and Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko would attend the NATO summit in the Czech capital next week, despite U.S. pressure against Kuchma going because of the radar issue.

It was not immediately clear how the decision to fire the government would affect Zlenko's participation. U.S. officials had urged Zlenko to go to Prague to sign a long-term plan that paves the way for Ukraine to join the military alliance.

NATO spokesman Robert Pszczel, speaking from Brussels, refused to comment on the affect the government change would have on the summit or NATO-Ukraine relations, but said: "We do not consider it wise for President Kuchma to come to Prague, full stop."