Orange Revolution in Ukraine was in tatters last night after the country's former prime minister delivered a stinging broadside against President Viktor Yushchenko, alleging that his government was riddled by corruption.
The devastating attack by Yulia Timoshenko, which was delivered on national television, dashed hopes of resolving a political crisis that exploded over the weekend when top officials began to resign in protest at in-fighting and alleged graft within the administration.
In a bold response to the crisis, Mr Yushchenko, who swept to power after mass protests 10 months ago, sacked Ms Timoshenko and her cabinet on Thursday.
The move won widespread plaudits at home and abroad and raised hopes that the spirit of unity that characterised the revolution would be rediscovered. But, in an emotional broadcast, Mrs Timoshenko said life in government had become intolerable because of the presence of another man in her relationship with the president. She was referring to Petro Poroshenko, a top aide and key ally of Mr Yushchenko.
Mr Poroshenko, an unpopular millionaire who is also godfather to one of the president's children, also resigned on Thursday.
He and Mrs Timoshenko have long been bitter foes, even though they stood together during the Orange Revolution sparked when the pro-western Mr Yushchenko was defeated in fraudulent polls by a Moscow-backed candidate, reported telegraph.co.uk
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