Former Ukraine speaker accused over funds

A parliamentary commission in Ukraine has said that a former speaker, Oleksandr Tkachenko, mishandled more than nine million dollars of public money.

The commission recommended parliament ask the state prosecutor's office to look into its report and decide whether to bring criminal charges against Mr Tkachenko.

He's dismissed the charges saying all the funds were spent legally.

Mr Tkachenko is an opponent of President Kuchma who was ousted from his post as speaker earlier this year by a majority of pro-government deputies.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service