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World in brief

Ukraine fires leaders over natural gas deal

By wire services
Published January 11, 2006

MOSCOW - The Ukrainian Parliament fired the government of Prime Minister Yuri Yekhanurov Tuesday, citing a contentious new deal with Russia that nearly doubles the price Ukraine pays for natural gas, a critical energy source in the country. But the dismissal appeared to be motivated as much by jostling in advance of parliamentary elections in March.

Ukraine last week agreed to pay $95 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas, up from $50 for the fuel, which is used for home heating and to power major industries such as steel and chemicals.

The opposition charged that the government mishandled the negotiations; members of the government countered that Ukraine will pay much less than the $230 for each unit that the state-controlled Russian energy giant Gazprom was demanding and less than other countries in the region.

The March 26 election will formally test the popularity of President Viktor Yushchenko for the first time since he was swept to power in late 2004 in a street upheaval known as the Orange Revolution. His Our Ukraine party is trailing badly in opinion polls.

Lawmakers present in the 450-seat Parliament voted 250 to 50 to fire Yekhanurov and his Cabinet, but the government will continue to serve until a new Cabinet is appointed, which likely will not come until after the elections.

BEIJING - Secretive North Korean leader Kim Jong Il traveled to China on Tuesday, a South Korean military intelligence official said, raising hopes of a resumption of international talks on the North's nuclear weapons program.

The trip, if confirmed, comes as North Korea refuses to return to six-nation disarmament talks, stalled since November, citing hostile policies by the United States. The talks include the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

China has in the past announced Kim's visits only after he has returned to North Korea. His last visit was in early 2004.

VENEZUELA THREATENS TO BUY NON-U.S. JETS: President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that Venezuela would consider buying Russian or Chinese warplanes if the United States fails to honor a contract to supply his country with parts for its F-16 jets. But U.S. officials said replacement parts for U.S.-made warplanes have recently been sent.

PERU REJECTS FUJIMORI'S CANDIDACY: Peru's election board on Tuesday barred Alberto Fujimori from running in an April election as the jailed former president fought efforts by Peruvian prosecutors to have him extradited from Chile on charges of rights violations and corruption.

PANAMANIAN MINISTER RESIGNS, BLAMES U.S.: Panama's agricultural minister resigned Tuesday, accusing the United States of pressuring the Central American country to accept lower agricultural inspection standards. Laurentino Cortizo's departure comes as the United States and Panama negotiate in Washington on a bilateral free trade accord that would remove tariffs and agricultural subsidies.

[Last modified January 11, 2006, 00:42:11]