Ukrainian parliament dismisses president
Updated: 2014-02-23 01:10
(Xinhua)
KIEV - Ukrainian Parliament passed a resolution on Saturday to dismiss President Viktor Yanukovych from his post, declaring him constitutionally unable to carry out his duties.
With at least 226 votes needed, 328 lawmakers in the 450-seat body supported the resolution, which said that the president's inability to carry out his duties "threatens state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and may entail a massive violation of the rights and freedoms of citizens."
The parliament also called early presidential election for May 25.
In a TV interview aired before the voting, Yanukovych, who reportedly left Kiev for the pro-Russian east of the country late Friday, said that he had no intention to quit or leave the country.
Yanukovych said that moves of the opposition leaders and the parliament were illegal and denounced the events witnessed by his country as "an example of a coup d'etat."
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Opposition memebers, including leader Vitaly Klitschko (top R) celebrate as the Ukraine's parliament voted to remove President Viktor Yanukovich from office hours after he abandoned his Kiev office to protesters and denounced what he described as a coup, during a session in Kiev February 22, 2014. [Photo/Agencies] |
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