Timoshenko takes vacation, decides to lead her bloc`s parliament faction

KIEV, March 4 (Itar-Tass) -- Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia
Timoshenko has decided to take a vacation.
She made the announcement at the Wednesday meeting of the government
that had been dismissed by the parliament earlier in the day.
Pending the formation of a new government, First Vice Prime Minister
Alexander Turchinov will substitute for Timoshenko as prime minister.
After the government meeting, practically all ministers said they
would carry on their duties as required by law until a new government is
confirmed.
Timoshenko will lead her bloc's faction in the parliament after
resignation.
"Yulia Timoshenko has assumed leadership in the faction. We are in
opposition," bloc member Sergei Mishchenko said.
"At the same time, Timoshenko will chair faction and expert council
meetings, and she will be in charge of all party issues. She will run the
faction outside the Verkhovna Rada because she is not a deputy," he said.
Another bloc member Sergei Pashinsky confirmed that Timoshenko had
announced her decision to go into opposition. "She said she would not wait
for a new coalition to be formed and would not be an acting prime
minister," he said.
"Yulia Timoshenko said that we should restructure our team, purge our
ranks and get ready for taking power in the future, relying solely on
ourselves," Pashinsky said.
He noted that Timoshenko planned to hold a congress "to discuss the
results of the work during the presidential election and make conclusions".
Earlier in the day, the parliament dismissed the Timoshenko government
by 243 votes, 17 more than was required by law.
-0-zak/