KIEV, Dec. 15 – President Viktor Yushchenko on Saturday defended his nominations to the government, responding to growing concerns within his party, Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense, which has been seeking to have greater influence on the appointments.

Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense, which controls 72 seats in Parliament, was split last month when six of its members had refused to sign the coalition agreement with the group led by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.