KIEV, Sept. 7 - President Viktor Yushchenko on Friday suspended the government’s issuance of licenses for extracting commodities, such as crude oil, natural gas and iron ore, from the soil, amid concerns over corruption.

The move effectively suspends the massive sale of licenses by the government on Aug. 29, when a total of 11 licenses were sold for a total of 628 million hryvnias ($124 million).