Chaos in Ukraine Parliament
As Russia deal ratified:
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A scene after smoke bomb is thrown during a Parliament sitting
in Kiev on April 27. AFP
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UKRAINE: Ukraine's parliament erupted into chaos Tuesday as deputies
scuffled and hurled smoke bombs during a tumultuous session that
ratified a bitterly contested deal with Russia extending a naval base
lease.
Despite the extraordinary scenes that saw Parliament the Verkhovna
Rada filled with smoke, lawmakers ratified the deal to extend the stay
of the Russian Black Sea fleet until at least 2042, denounced by the
opposition as a sell-out for Ukraine.
The uproar started when the parliament speaker, Volodymr Lytvyn, was
pelted with a volley of a dozen eggs, forcing him to duck for cover
behind black umbrellas held by two aides.
Several smoke bombs were thrown, apparently by pro-Western opposition
deputies, filling the chamber with smoke. Some deputies covered their
faces or held handkerchiefs to their noses as alarms sounded.
A fistfight broke out on the deputies' benches and one lawmaker was
seen thumping a colleague on the head. Another gripped a fellow deputy
in a headlock as others piled in with eager punches.
Deputies also started fighting over a massive Ukrainian flag in the
middle of the chamber, twisting and distorting the yellow and blue
banner as smoke kept billowing.
KIEV, Wednesday, AFP
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