Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk gesturing as he addresses members of parliament during a parliamentary session in Kiev
AFP/Keiv
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk resigned in a shock move Thursday after the collapse of the ruling parliamentary coalition paved the way for new legislative elections in the strife-torn ex-Soviet nation.
"I announce my resignation in connection with the dissolution of the parliamentary coalition and the blocking of government initiatives," a furious Yatsenyuk told parliament.
Yatsenyuk said the "government and the prime minister must resign" after several parties pulled out of the European Choice parliamentary majority, in a move that triggered the possibility of long-awaited early legislative polls.
Pro-Western Yatsenyuk -- who has helped steer the country through upheaval since the ouster of Kremlin-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych in February -- lashed out at the decision to pull the plug on the coalition as Kiev is struggling to end a bloody separatist insurrection tearing apart the east.
"Placing narrow political interests above the fate of the government is unacceptable. It is a moral and political crime," he blasted.
Parliament speaker Oleksandr Turchynov called on deputies to put forward immediately a candidate for a temporary premier "until parliamentary elections are held."
It was not immediately clear if Yatsenyuk or the cabinet remain in position as caretakers.
- 'Political games' -Early parliamentary elections in Ukraine have been expected since Viktor Yanukovych was kicked out of power following months of deadly protests.
