Ukraine 's President Viktor Yushchenko has fired the government of Yulia Tymoshenko, saying it had lost its "team spirit".
Yulia Tymoshenko
Mr Yushchenko, who has pledged to stamp out the corruption widespread under former president Leonid Kuchma, told a news conference he would ask regional governor Yury Yekhanurov (57), who once worked with him in government, to form a new team.
He also accepted the resignation of close ally Petro Poroshenko from his powerful security post and suspended another aide - both of whom had been accused of involvement in graft.
Ukraine's state security chief Oleksander Turchinov also tendered his resignation on Thursday after the sacking of the government. Mr Turchinov is a close ally of Ms Tymoshenko.
In sacking the charismatic Ms Tymoshenko, whose fiery oratory brought thousands out on to the streets in last December's pro-Western "Orange Revolution" that took him to power, Yushchenko moved decisively to end a crisis that has threatened his credibility.
After months of tension between Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko over Ukraine 's economic direction, his chief of staff quit on Saturday, alleging deep corruption in his administration at the weekend.
"I am setting before the new team one task - the ability to work as one. . .
. The moment is right when (the old team) have lost their team spirit," Mr Yushchenko declared. "We need to halt the disappointment in society and make sure that the ideals (of the Orange Revolution) are not cast into doubt," he said.
The allegations of corruption hurt a government already tarnished by slowing economic growth, rising inflation and lack of consistency on key policy issues.