Ukraine parliament ousts PM Tymoshenko

Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

KIEV, March 3, 2010 (AFP) - Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, forcing her and the cabinet to resign.

A majority of 243 deputies voted for the no-confidence motion brought by the Regions Party, led by Ukraine's new President Viktor Yanukovych, who defeated Tymoshenko in presidential elections last month.

At least 226 out of the 450 deputies in the Verkhovna Rada needed to back the no-confidence motion for it to pass.

Under Ukraine's constitution, the government is now automatically required to resign although it can stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is appointed.

Tymoshenko had said earlier she and her government would quit immediately if the motion were passed.