KIEV, May 31 ??“ Internal Affairs Minister Vasyl Tsushko, a central figure in the political standoff between the president and prime minister, was flown to Germany for treatment after his condition worsened following a heart attack, the ministry said.

The Interior Ministry said Wednesday that Tsushko had suffered a heart attack, and ministry spokesman Kostyantyn Stogniy said late Thursday that he had been transported to Germany because his condition had worsened.

???On May 31 Tsushko was evacuated to the hospital in Germany by a special intensive care plane,??? the ministry reported Thursday. ???This decision has been taken by family members after consultations with doctors.???

Last week, after President Viktor Yushchenko fired the country's prosecutor-general, the Interior Ministry sent police to surround the prosecutor's office to prevent him from being evicted.

In the face of that defiance, Yushchenko said he had taken control of Interior Ministry's forces and sent some to the capital, although Tsushko refused to recognize the order.

The moves raised fears that the dispute between Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych could spill over into violence.

Yushchenko on Wednesday called the move to send police forces to the prosecutor's office a "serious crime" and said Tsushko was responsible.

Tensions eased Sunday after the Yushchenko and Yanukovych agreed to hold early elections Sept. 30. But Tsushko's status has been shaky: the new prosecutor-general appointed by Yushchenko said the minister was being investigated for alleged abuse of power.

Meanwhile, mutual recriminations and disorder in parliament scuttled plans to vote on the last of the bills needed to call the early elections, with each side accusing the other of trying to sabotage the agreement. Yushchenko's allies walked out after Yanukovych supporters swarmed the tribune to prevent opponents from speaking and initiating votes on bills they disagreed with. (ap/ez)