Ukraine PM calls for President to quit in battle of the Oranges

By Online Editor -

Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine's Prime Minister has called on Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushchenko, to resign.

The latest salvo comes as Ukraine's President, former head to the National Bank, faces allegations of involvement in a conspiracy to undermine the value of Ukraine's currency.

The prime minister demanded the resignation of Mr Yushchenko, and named Dmytro Firtash, the billionaire and Gazprom partner in the supply of natural gas to Ukraine and Europe, as a co-conspirator in the alleged currency speculation.

“I believe the president of this country, who works according to the [principle] that whatever is worse for the country is better for me, who makes money out of the misery of people, must step down,” Tymoshenko said.

The latest attack escalates sharply a long-running political feud between Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yushchenko at a time when the country‘s economy is struggling.

Ukraine's currency is currently trading at a record low of 9 hryvnya to one US dollar placing considerable strain on Ukraine's economy in the wake of the world financial crisis.

Earlier this year the President of Yushchenko accused Ukraine's Prime minister of high treason following her refusal to involve Ukraine in the conflict between Russia and Georgia. The once partners and allies in the Orange revolution of 2004 have been at log a heads trading insults and verbal attacks as Ukraine approaches the new year.

Both candidates are expected to challenge each other at the presidential elections which are due to be held in December 2009.

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