KIEV, Dec. 6 ??“ Foreign Minister Boris Tarasiuk on Wednesday threatened to appeal to the Prosecutor General Office and courts after security guards had not allowed him to join a Cabinet of Ministers meeting.

First Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who is in charge of the government as Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has been visiting Washington, has issued an order to bar Tarasiuk from the meeting.

The development comes a day after President Viktor Yushchenko has re-assured Tarasiuk??™s authority following a court ruling that had suspended Parliament??™s controversial resolution dismissing the minister.

This underscores rapidly deteriorating relations between Yushchenko, a pro-Western leader, and the government, dominated by pro-Russian groups, amid a clash for control over Ukraine??™s foreign policy.

???The actions of my colleagues that have prevented me from fulfilling my duties are irresponsible and are illegal,??? Tarasiuk said. ???I hope the General Prosecutors Office will give its assessment.???

Yushchenko??™s decree re-assuring Tarasiuk as the minister shows that the president has been aggressively defending his powers to define the country??™s foreign policy.

Yanukovych has been seeking to dismiss Tarasiuk apparently for his active pro-Western policy, such as a quick accession to NATO, that has been seriously irritating Russia, Ukraine??™s key supplier of energy.

Yushchenko was immediately informed about the developments at the Cabinet of Ministers. He has later issued strong support for Tarasiuk.

???The president believes that Tarasiuk has all legal reasons to join the Cabinet meeting,??? Iryna Vannikova, Yushchenko??™s spokeswoman, said.

The development is a step towards constitutional crisis in Ukraine as the president and the government have been apparently unable to share the power following controversial amendments to the constitution enacted earlier this year.

The amendments shifted much of the powers from the president to the pro-government coalition in Parliament, but had failed to specify some sensitive issues, such as the procedure of dismissing the ministers.

Yushchenko loyalists believe that since the president nominates foreign and defense ministers, it is the president that must approve their dismissals before Parliament votes to sack them.

The pro-government coalition, however, believes that it has the power to dismiss both ministers anytime and without the president??™s approval.

???Tarasiuk??™s dismissal was in line with constitutional norms and Parliament??™s regulations,??? Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych, a long-time foe of Yushchenko, said. ???It??™s all perfectly clear.??? (tl/ez)