Date:17/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/17/stories/2004121700431500.htm

International

Government poisoned me: Yushchenko

KIEV, DEC. 16. The Ukrainian Opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, said on Thursday that he is sure he was poisoned by the Ukrainian Government, and for the first time pinpointed the time and place of his dioxin poisoning: a September 5 dinner with the head of the Ukrainian security service and his deputy.

``That was the only place where no one from my team was present and no precautions were taken concerning the food,'' he said.

``It was a project of political murder, prepared by the authorities.'' Mr. Yushchenko said prosecutors were looking into the case and that the culprits would be punished. — AP