Ukraine’s interior minister sacked as presidential rivals spar | Top Russian news and analysis online | ‘RIA Novosti’ newswire: “Ukrainian presidential frontrunner Viktor Yanukovych flexed his muscles in parliament on Thursday as MPs voted to dismiss the interior minister, a close ally of his opponent, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Yanukovych’s opposition Party of Regions initiated Yuryi Lutsenko’s removal, accusing him of political bias, and 231 members of the Supreme Rada voted to dismiss the minister, narrowly clearing the 226 votes required.
Tymoshenko struck back swiftly, however, calling an extraordinary meeting of the government at which Lutsenko was appointed first deputy interior minister, authorizing him to run the ministry.”