Two more top Ukraine officials quit in corruption scandal
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-08 17:05

Two senior Ukrainian government officials resigned in connection with a government corruption scandal, fanning the largest political crisis in the country since President Viktor Yushchenko assumed office earlier this year.

National Security Council Secretary Petro Poroshenko, accused earlier in the week of using his position to enrich himself -- a charge he denied -- tendered his resignation, Interfax reported.

"I understand that my remaining at the post ... can be viewed as an opportunity to influence the investigation," the Interfax news agency quoted Poroshenko as saying in a statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Tomenko separately announced at a televised press conference that he was resigning in protest at corruption in the government.

"I don't want to carry responsibility for people who have created a system of corruption," he said. "The president does not know what's going on in the country."

The double resignations Thursday came five days after Olexander Zinchenko, a key ally of Yushchenko during the "orange revolution" in Ukraine last year, quit as the president's chief of staff, accusing two top officials -- notably Poroshenko -- of corruption.

Yushchenko was due to address reporters at 0730 GMT over the crisis.

The online daily Ukrainska Pravda said the Ukrainian leader was likely to announce major changes in the government during the press conference.

The corruption allegations have left Yushchenko with the first major political crisis since he took office in January.