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Ukraine court opens crisis case | Ukraine court opens crisis case |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Ukraine's constitutional court has begun examining the legality of President Viktor Yushchenko's decree dissolving parliament. | Ukraine's constitutional court has begun examining the legality of President Viktor Yushchenko's decree dissolving parliament. |
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, Mr Yushchenko's arch-rival, has refused to obey the decree, which called for an early 27 May election. | Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, Mr Yushchenko's arch-rival, has refused to obey the decree, which called for an early 27 May election. |
Several hundred demonstrators from rival camps have been waving flags and chanting slogans outside the court. | Several hundred demonstrators from rival camps have been waving flags and chanting slogans outside the court. |
Mr Yushchenko has ruled out any use of force to resolve the crisis. | Mr Yushchenko has ruled out any use of force to resolve the crisis. |
Last week, five of the court's 18 judges demanded bodyguards, complaining that they had come under "gross pressure" from the prime minister's allies. | Last week, five of the court's 18 judges demanded bodyguards, complaining that they had come under "gross pressure" from the prime minister's allies. |
Speaking in Strasbourg, before addressing the Council of Europe, Mr Yanukovych said any pressure on the judges would be a "violation of the principles of democracy and the Ukrainian constitution". | |
The court has one month to consider the case, but the judges have been asked to move faster. A decision requires the consent of 10 judges. | The court has one month to consider the case, but the judges have been asked to move faster. A decision requires the consent of 10 judges. |
Power struggle | Power struggle |
Mr Yushchenko dissolved parliament on 2 April, accusing Mr Yanukovych of trying to usurping power by illegally luring deputies into his parliamentary bloc. | Mr Yushchenko dissolved parliament on 2 April, accusing Mr Yanukovych of trying to usurping power by illegally luring deputies into his parliamentary bloc. |
The rivalry between the two men dates back to the 2004 Orange Revolution which swept Mr Yushchenko to power, overturning a Yanukovych election victory which was widely condemned as fraudulent. | The rivalry between the two men dates back to the 2004 Orange Revolution which swept Mr Yushchenko to power, overturning a Yanukovych election victory which was widely condemned as fraudulent. |
Mr Yushchenko and his supporters said Ukraine should aim for membership of the EU and Nato, while Mr Yanukovych pushed for stronger ties with Russia. | Mr Yushchenko and his supporters said Ukraine should aim for membership of the EU and Nato, while Mr Yanukovych pushed for stronger ties with Russia. |
Constitutional reforms carried out as a result of the Orange Revolution weakened the president and strengthened parliament, but Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych have clashed over the details. | Constitutional reforms carried out as a result of the Orange Revolution weakened the president and strengthened parliament, but Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovych have clashed over the details. |
Mr Yanukovych asked the court to rule on the legality of Mr Yushchenko's decree. | Mr Yanukovych asked the court to rule on the legality of Mr Yushchenko's decree. |
Mr Yushchenko met the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, in Brussels on Tuesday. | Mr Yushchenko met the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, in Brussels on Tuesday. |
"This situation requires not only the decision by the constitutional court, but this should be about agreement between the sides... There wasn't even a single discussion about applying any military force for resolving this conflict," Mr Yushchenko said. | "This situation requires not only the decision by the constitutional court, but this should be about agreement between the sides... There wasn't even a single discussion about applying any military force for resolving this conflict," Mr Yushchenko said. |
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