KIEV, Nov. 30 ??“ The Regions Party-led government coalition plans a massive attack on President Viktor Yushchenko??™s foreign and domestic policies seeking to dismiss on Friday three ministers that remain to be loyal to the president.

The coalition seeks to dismiss Foreign Minister Boris Tarasiuk, Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko and Internal Affairs Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, according to three bills submitted to Parliament Thursday.

Tarasiuk and Hrytsenko are the key backers of Ukraine??™s pro-Western foreign policy and call for a quick accession to NATO. Lutsenko has been pressing with a crusade against corruption.

The development signals a major deterioration in relations between Yanukovych and Yushchenko following several important tactical victories by the president in the battle for control over foreign and domestic policies.

Yushchenko, who is authorized by the constitution to nominate foreign and defense ministers, pledged to take steps to protect them from the dismissal. Specifically, Yushchenko sent a note to Yanukovych insisting that no action must be taken against Tarasiuk.

???Boris Tarasiuk will work,??? Yushchenko said in an interview with BBC on Thursday. ???Tarasiuk fulfils his duties and Ukraine needs his work.???

The worsening of relations between the president and the prime minister comes a day after Yushchenko has forced Yanukovych to clear with the president agenda for the upcoming U.S. trip, an important victory for control over the foreign policy.

A day earlier, Yushchenko??™s bill declaring Holodomor, a famine in 1932-1933, as genocide against the Ukrainian people, has split the government coalition. The issue is a sensitive domestic issue that may worsen relations with Russia, analysts said.

The bills seeking to dismiss the ministers were submitted as Yanukovych has been visiting Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yanukovych also met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.

The attack against the pro-Western ministers is the latest indication that Yanukovych has been seeking to change Ukraine??™s foreign and defense policies away from close cooperation with the West.

The attack comes ahead of Yanukovych??™s visit to Washington, where issues of NATO membership and alternative energy supplies are expected to be discussed. Yanukovych is due to visit Washington between Dec. 3 and Dec. 6, and is expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other officials.

Yanukovych, after talks with Putin in Moscow, indicated the government coalition will probably press for the dismissals.

Meanwhile, the coalition on Thursday tried, but failed, to dismiss Lutsenko from the post after the Socialist Party, a small moderate member of the coalition, has refused to back the motion.

The Socialist Party apparently wants to be able to nominate a candidate for the post of the Internal Affairs Minister in case Lutsenko is dismissed, people familiar with the situation said.

Vasyl Tsushko, the leader of the Socialists in Parliament and an ally of Parliament Speaker Oleksandr Moroz, has been suggested to the post, but is yet to be confirmed by other coalition partners, the people said. (tl/ez)